Verplank moves one stroke clear at Disney

MIAMI (Reuters) - Scott Verplank, helped by six birdies in his first nine holes, grabbed a one-shot lead in the Disney Classic second round at Lake Buena Vista on Friday.

The U.S. Presidents Cup player fired a six-under-par 66 on the Magnolia course, one of two venues hosting the final event of the 2007 PGA Tour season.

Bidding for his sixth Tour title, Verplank raced to the turn in six-under 30 before parring the last nine holes in blustery conditions for a 12-under total of 132.

"I kind of lost my rhythm a little bit and struggled to find it," the 43-year-old told reporters at the Walt Disney World Resort. "It got windier as the day went on and it's a different direction than you normally see around here.

"But I got on such a nice roll in the first nine holes that I didn't kill myself by making a bunch of pars."

Stephen Ames reeled off seven consecutive birdies on his way to a best-of-the-week 63 on the Palm layout and a tie for second place with Americans Tag Ridings (66) and Ryan Armour (64).

Ames launched his red-hot run at the par-five first, his 10th hole of the day, before running up a three-putt bogey at the ninth where he missed a three-footer to save par.

"It was more the putter than anything else that was working for me today," the 43-year-old Trinidad native said after covering his homeward nine in six-under 30.

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