San Antonio, TX (My Sportsbook) - Fred Funk, four months removed from his 50th birthday, posted a four-under 67 on Saturday to stay atop the leaderboard at the AT&T Championship. Funk stands at 10-under-par 132 and is one ahead of Raymond Floyd at Oak Hills Country Club.
Floyd carded a five-under 66 to move into sole possession of second place. If he were to hoist the trophy on Sunday, he would become the oldest winner in Champions Tour history.
Jay Haas, the defending champion and leading money winner on the Champions Tour, fired a seven-under 64 and is tied for third place with Keith Fergus (67) and Scott Simpson (68). The trio completed 36 holes at eight-under-par 134.
Funk got out of the gate quickly when he knocked a wedge to 20 feet on the first hole. He converted the birdie putt, then parred his next five holes. The 50-year-old hit an eight-iron to 15 feet to set up a birdie at the par-four seventh.
He made the turn battling Haas for the lead, but Haas played in the first group out on Saturday morning. That left Funk plenty of time to move past his former Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup partner.
Funk did just that at the 11th. Once again, eight-iron was his club of choice and this time he knocked his approach to 10 feet. Funk drained the birdie putt to move to nine-under par for the championship.
At the par-five 15th, Funk reached the green in two at the 527-yard hole. He two-putted from 45 feet to move to 10-under par and two clear of Floyd until Floyd birdied 17.
"I played good on the front, but let a few opportunities go," said Funk, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour. "I playing well and am real relaxed out there."
He has spent most of his 2006 season competing on the PGA Tour and in fact, has only played twice on the Champions Tour prior to this week. He finished tied for 11th both at the U.S. Senior Open and the Ford Senior Players Championship.
"In order to win, I need to convert a few more chances," admitted Funk. "It's great to have the lead. I was hoping to get a little more separation when I made the turn."
Not many could have expected he would need separation from the 64-year-old Floyd.
He flew out on Saturday with a seven-foot birdie putt at one and a two-footer at the second. Floyd birdied eight to make the turn at three-under-par 32.
Floyd's second with a hybrid-club at the par-five 10th landed in a greenside bunker. He blasted out to three feet and holed the birdie putt to get to eight-under par.
He bogeyed the 14th, but reached the fringe in two at the par-five 15th. Floyd two-putted for birdie, then ran home a 10-footer for birdie at 17 to earn his first spot in a final pairing on Sunday since 1999.
"I'm pretty healthy," said Floyd, referring to his recent stint of strong golf. "My back isn't tightening up. I've gone to two-a-days in the trailer and the boys have done a wonderful job."
Jim Thorpe (66), Ron Streck (66), James Mason (67) and R.W. Eaks (69) share sixth place at seven-under-par 135.
Wayne Levi (67), Dana Quigley (67), Loren Roberts (68), Craig Stadler (68) and Dick Mast (68) are tied for 10th place at minus-six.