ON THE SIDELINES : Long Putter Puts Senior Ahead

SYDNEY, Australia —  Australian Peter Senior shot a 68 to grab a two-shot lead after the second round of the Australian PGA championship.

Senior, using an elongated putter, finished 36-holes at 135, 9-under-par. He kept cool in today’s difficult rain-swept conditions and fired six birdies over the par-72, 6,950-yard Riverside Oaks course.

Mike Harwood of Australia carded a 69 which left him at 137, tied with American John Wilson and two strokes behind the leader. Wilson also fired a 69.

American Jim Benepe was in fourth, 6-under-par, after hitting seven birdies in a sizzling 66.

Senior’s long putter, which he tucks under his chin with his left hand and swings with his right, was functioning at its best today. He sank 20-foot birdie putts on the third and 10th holes and rolled in a 27-foot putt on the 15th.