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    19 May 2012| last updated at 09:56AM

    Dufner seizes one-shot lead at Byron Nelson



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    DALLAS, Texas: American Jason Dufner rolled in four birdies on his final five holes for a four-under 66 and a one-shot lead after the second round of the PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Championship on Friday.

     

    Dufner finished off his round with a 37-foot chip-in at the 429-yard 18th. 
     
    His drive off the tee sailed wide right and he hit an approach that rolled over  the green.
     
    “I’m confident with my game and happy with where my game is right now,” he  said.
     
    Dufner, who won last month in New Orleans for his first USPGA Tour title,  reached seven-under 133. He also had a 35-foot chip in at the 15th hole.
     
    He had the 36-hole lead at the Masters, one of four times Dufner has led  after two rounds this season.
     
    Because he has won before after leading at the halfway point of a  tournament, Dufner feels he can do it again.
     
    “It was a nice way to finish, looking forward to the weekend,” Dufner said.
     
    “I was kind of around par for the day, trying to stay patient a little bit,  maybe get a birdie or two on the last five holes and ended up getting birdie on  four of the last five, couple of chip-ins, which you don’t expect, especially  the one on 18.
     
    “That’s a difficult position to be over the back of that green to that hole  location.
     
    Matt Kuchar was second along with first-round leader Ryan Palmer, Chad  Campbell, Pat Perez, Dicky Pride and Marc Leishman. 
     
    Kuchar shot a 68 and is fresh off a win at The Players Championship on  Sunday.
     
    Phil Mickelson, who is one of just two top 10 players in the field,  finished with a double bogey for a 69. He was not happy with his round.
     
    “I hit it terrible today, there was no other way around it,” Mickelson  said. “I’ve just got some mechanical issues where I was not striking the ball  very solid. I was able to hit decent shots on the backside to make birdies and  make a run, but that last hole stunk.”
     
    Kuchar has a chance to become the first PGA Tour player since Tiger Woods  three years ago to win in consecutive weeks. Woods also was the last player to  win in his next start after winning The Players Championship. He did it in 2001. -- AFP

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