NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana), March 29: Briny Baird birdied the final two holes for a three-under-par 69 to seize the second-round lead at the New Orleans Classic on Friday.

Baird sank a 20-foot putt at the last to finish eight under on 136, one stroke better than Australian Peter Lonard and fellow American Jay Williamson.

Lonard surged into the lead after a run of three birdies in four holes but bogeys at the 15th, 17th and 18th forced him to settle for a 70.

Tied on six-under 138 were holder Nick Watney (67), who took only 21 putts, fellow American Tommy Armour III (68) and Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama (68).

South African Tim Clark, who began his round on the back nine, produced a dazzling finish to move into contention.

Clark birdied the seventh and eighth before recording a hole-in-one at the 210-yard, par-three ninth for a six-under 66. He was among a group of 10 players on 139.

Eighty-one players made the cut set at even-par 144.

Among those failing to qualify for weekend play were fourth-ranked Steve Stricker at 145, after a 75, former Masters champion Mike Weir of Canada at 146 (75) and twice major winner John Daly at 150 (77).

Leading second-round scores:

136 – Briny Baird (US) 67, 69

137 – Peter Lonard (Australia) 67, 70; Jay Williamson (US) 68, 69.

138 – Tommy Armour III (US) 70, 68; Nick Watney (US) 71, 67; Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 70, 68.

139 – Brian Davis (Britain) 71, 68; Cameron Beckman (US) 68, 71; Marco Dawson (US) 71, 68; Tim Clark (South Africa) 73, 66; Dean Wilson (US) 66, 73; Chez Reavie (US) 67, 72; John Merrick (US) 72, 67; Parker McLachlin (US) 72, 67; Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand) 71, 68; Steve Elkington (Australia) 68, 71.

140 – Jeff Maggert (US) 70, 70; Todd Hamilton (US) 70, 70; Rocco Mediate (US) 70, 70; Nathan Green (Australia) 71, 69; Roland Thatcher (US) 70, 70; Nicholas Thompson (US) 69, 71; Woody Austin (US) 69, 71; Joe Durant (US) 69, 71.

141 – Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 71, 70; Jon Mills (Canada) 71, 70; Carlos Franco (Paraguay) 71, 70; Ted Purdy (US) 70, 71; Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 71, 70; Steve Flesch (US) 69, 72; Pat Perez (US) 71, 70.

142 – Harrison Frazar (US) 69, 73; Justin Bolli (US) 74, 68; Patrick Sheehan (US) 69, 73; Troy Matteson (US) 69, 73; J.J. Henry (US) 74, 68; Dudley Hart (US) 73, 69; Tim Petrovic (US) 74, 68; Andres Romero (Argentina) 73, 69; James Driscoll (US) 75, 67; Mark Hensby (Australia) 74, 68; John Mallinger (US) 69, 73; Bubba Watson (US) 73, 69; Jason Bohn (US) 74, 68; Kenny Perry (US) 71, 71; Mark Calcavecchia (US) 71, 71; Kevin Sutherland (US) 71, 71; Matt Jones (Australia) 74, 68.

143 – Craig Barlow (US) 72, 71; Brian Bateman (US) 73, 70; Jonathan Byrd (US) 72, 71; John Senden (Australia) 74, 69; Cliff Kresge (US) 75, 68; Mathew Goggin (Australia) 73, 70; Chris Stroud (US) 72, 71; Bubba Dickerson (US) 70, 73; Johnson Wagner (US) 71, 72; Frank Lickliter II (US) 72, 71; Zach Johnson (US) 72, 71; Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 70, 73; Jose Coceres (Argentina) 75, 68; Liang Wen-Chong (China) 71, 72.

144 – Charles Warren (US) 70, 74; Tom Pernice Jr (US) 73, 71; George McNeill (US) 71, 73; Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 71, 73; Stewart Cink (US) 73, 71; Paul Goydos (US) 74, 70; Jonathan Kaye (US) 74, 70; Brandt Jobe (US) 70, 74; Chip Sullivan (US) 76, 68; Park Jin (South Korea) 70, 74; Bob Estes (US) 72, 72; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 73, 71; Alex Cejka (Germany) 72, 72; Jeff Quinney (US) 71, 73; Robert Gamez (US) 70, 74; Mathias Groenberg (Sweden) 75, 69; Rich Beem (US) 73, 71; Scott Sterling (US) 71, 73; Brett Rumford (Australia) 72, 72.—Reuters