Parnevik leads Swedish charge in Texas Open

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Sweden's Jesper Parnevik followed up his career best opening round with a sparkling five-under 65 on Friday to maintain his four-stroke lead through two rounds of the Texas Open.

The leaderboard at San Antonio's La Cantera Golf Club could have been mistaken for the Sweden national championship with Parnevik leading countryman Mathias Gronberg by four and compatriots Fredrik Jacobson and Richard Johnson one shot further adrift.

After carding a career low round of a nine-under 61 on Thursday, Parnevik carried the momentum into Friday with birdies on his opening two holes.

He sped into the turn with two more birdies at the seventh and ninth before taking a bogey at the par four 11th.

But that would be the only miscue of day, the 42-year-old playing error-free golf the rest of way, collecting back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 to reach the midway point with 14-under 126 and stay on course for his first PGA Tour win since 2001.

"It's not always easy to put a low round after a really low round like yesterday," Parnevik told reporters. "So, I'm pleased with the way I played today.

"I would say most tournaments where I've been leading I have won.

"I'd rather be in the lead than a few behind. I would like to be in the lead by as many as possible," he added.

Jacobson and Gronberg both matched Parnevik signing for 65s but could not cut into veteran's four stroke overnight lead.

Gronberg's bogey-free round was highlighted by an eagle three at the par five 14th followed by birdies at 16 and 18 to sit on 10-under 130 with Jacobson and Johnson (66) at nine-under 131.

American Steve Flesch, with two wins in his last five starts, had his run of form come to an end, carding an even par 70 to miss the one-under cut by two shots.

He was joined at the exit by big-hitting John Daly, who carded a two-over 72 for the second consecutive day.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Detroit)