Jul 5, 2008 - 9:00 AM
0 shoutsENDICOTT, New York (Ticker) -- Joe Ozaki sits atop the leaderboard entering the second round of the $1.6 million Dick's Sporting Goods Open on Saturday.
Ozaki birdied six of his final seven holes on Friday en route to a 9-under-par 63 at En-Joie Golf Course.
The Japanese native had been consistent over his first 11 holes during the opening round, carding three birdies. However, the birdies came in bunches over his final seven holes.
Ozaki started his birdie binge at the par-5 12th hole and added another at No. 13. After a par, he reeled off four consecutive birdies to punctuate the round, which was his best score since he joined the Champions Tour in 2006.
The scintillating finish by Ozaki, who never has won on the Champions Tour, gave him a two-shot lead over Eduardo Romero (65).
While Ozaka closed with a flourish, Romero enjoyed a sterling start on Friday. The Argentine opened with three straight birdies and had six over his first eight holes.
Romero endured his only hiccup at the par-4 10th with a double-bogey. However, he recovered to card three birdies over his final eight holes, putting himself within striking distance of the lead.
Joe Sindelar, Ronnie Black and Fulton Allem all are three strokes off the lead entering the second round following 66s on Friday.
Defending champion R.W Eaks is 12 shots behind Ozaka after managing only a 75 in the first round. Last year, Eaks earned his first Champions Tour title with by a three-stroke victory over Bruce Vaughan.
Plagued by knee pain and looking down the road at possible double-knee replacement surgery, Eaks has only one top-10 finish this season.
Last week's winner, Loren Roberts, is not in the field.
First prize is $240,000.
