Forsman leads Bryant by 1 shot after 2nd round of Dick’s Sporting Goods Open

Forsman leads Dick’s Sporting Goods Open by 1

ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Dan Forsman shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday and gained a one-shot lead over Brad Bryant after two rounds at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.

Forsman was at 12-under 132 and lucky to be there alone after Bryant (67) bogeyed the final hole. Russ Cochran (66) and first-round leader Wayne Levi (69) were tied at 10 under.

Bill Glasson (66), Mark Calcavecchia (68), and Nick Price (66), third in the Schwab Cup standings, were another shot back.

Andy Bean, who had an 8-under 64, the best round of the day and just two shots off his career low, was tied with Loren Roberts (68) at 8 under. Fred Funk (70) was alone at 7 under.

Ken Green, in just his second start in a stroke-play event since an RV crash a year ago resulted in the loss of the lower part of his right leg, had a 2-over 74. It was the best round in his comeback.

Levi, so solid in the opening round with seven birdies and no bogeys, lost his edge at the outset despite ideal playing conditions, save a few afternoon sprinkles, and virtually no wind. His playing partners surged past, dueling for the lead all day.

Forsman, who won the Regions Charity Classic in May, one of six top-10s on the season, birdied the first three holes to quickly erase Levi’s one-shot lead. He followed that with birdies at Nos. 7 and 8 to reach 11 under at the turn.

Bryant, tied for second with Forsman to start the day, kept pace with the lone eagle of the tournament at the 379-yard, par-4 second hole. Bryant’s soaring second shot from 80 yards at the dogleg left landed on the green and bounced right into the cup, eliciting a smirk from Bryant and a roar from the gallery.

Bryant matched Forsman with birdies at the seventh and eighth holes and headed for the back nine one shot behind.

Both men birdied Nos. 10 and 12, and Bryant finally drew even at the 215-yard, par-3 14th hole when Forsman drove the rough to the right of the green and couldn’t get up and down, missing an 8-foot par putt. It was Forsman’s first bogey in a span of 33 holes, but he averted a two-shot swing when Bryant pulled a short putt for birdie.

Bryant escaped trouble at No. 15 with a clutch shot out of a stand of trees after an errant drive and saved par. He got lucky on the final hole when his drive sailed toward the trees that line the right side of the fairway and caromed into the rough. His second shot landed in rough at the back left of the green and he was unable to save par, missing a 12-foot putt.

The last time the 58-year-old Levi was in sole possession of the lead after the first round was at the 2005 Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn, and he eventually finished tied for 21st. He seemed destined to repeat that performance.

A day after a 7-under 65 had given him the first-round lead, Levi had one birdie and one bogey on the front side before rallying late.

Levi made a nice uphill birdie putt at No. 15, one of only 10 birdies on what statistically was the most difficult hole of the day. His second shot at the par-4 16th hole spun backward and barely past the pin to set up another birdie that got him to 9 under, and he drove within 6 feet of the pin at the par-3 17th hole but missed the putt.

Unfazed, Levi rebounded with a birdie on the final hole to tie for third.

Divots: There were 27 rounds below 70 and 48 rounds below par. … Ken Green was at 8-over par, two shots ahead of Dave Eichelberger and four in front of Jim Dent.