NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Craig Stadler, seeking his fourth career Champions Tour victory, overtook Gary Koch at the ACE Group Classic Saturday with his second straight 5-under 67.
With winds gusting near 20 miles an hour, Stadler used a series of knockdown shots and a deft putting stroke to reach 10-under 134, a shot better than Koch and four ahead of Gil Morgan.
Stadler had five birdies during a bogey-free day on the southwest coast of Florida, jumping from 10th to first in the third Champions Tour event of the season.
While Stadler had the best round of the day by two strokes, Koch had his share of trouble. After opening the tournament with a 62, the part-time broadcaster had two bogeys and a birdie en route to a 73.
It appears to be a two-man tournament, with Morgan four strokes off the pace and Tom Watson, Wayne Levi and Morris Hatalsky sharing fourth, five shots back.
