Cook leads Kite, Lehman by one

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Defending champion John Cook rallied on the back nine Friday and held onto a one-shot lead midway through the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Cook fired a 2-under 69 at the TPC-Harding Park course for a two-day total of 9-under 133. That put him a shot in front of Tom Kite and Tom Lehman.

Fred Funk, who was in position to at least share the lead until the final hole, was tied for fourth at 135 with Mark O'Meara and Russ Cochran. He made a messy double bogey from the middle of the fairway at the par-4 18th that included a missed 3-foot putt.

Cook, meanwhile, played the final five holes in 3-under, a stretch highlighted by an eagle at the short, par-4 16th. Cook put his tee shot on the green just 3 feet from the cup at the 16th and made the putt for his eagle.

Only the top 30 money winners on the Champions Tour this year are eligible for the final event of the season.

Bernhard Langer, who leads the season-long points list that will determine the winner of the Charles Schwab Cup, was tied for seventh at 136. Fred Couples, the only player with a chance to catch Langer in the points race, was at 138.

Cook has not won on the Champions Tour since he captured this event last year. He has four career victories on the circuit.