DUBLIN, Ohio, June 3 (UPI) -- Steve Stricker made an ace as part of a sensational finish to his round Friday, a 67 that gave him a three-shot lead after 36 holes at the Memorial Tournament.
Stricker played the back nine first at the Muirfield Village Golf Club and when he came to the par-5 fifth, his 14th of the day, he was at even par for the round and two shots out of the lead.
He birdied the fifth and sixth and then settled for par at the long seventh. His tee shot at the 186-yard, par-3 eighth hit 3 feet short of the hole and trickled into the cup for an ace -- and he followed that with a 14-foot birdie putt at the ninth to shoot a 5-under 67.
Stricker is ranked eighth in the world and has only two finishes outside the top 20 this year but he has yet to win in 2011. He put together a two-day total of 9-under 135.
Ricky Barnes, Rod Pampling, Jonathan Byrd and first-round co-leader Rory McIlroy were tied for second at 138.
The group at 139 included world No. 1 Luke Donald, who shot a 69. Chris Riley, who was tied with McIlroy after the first day, had a 75 and slipped into 14th place at 141. Phil Mickelson was at 142.
The 36-hole cut came at 1-over 143 and those who missed it included Jim Furyk and defending champion Justin Rose.
