HUMBLE, Texas, April 25 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Amateur champion Hank Kuehne, hoping to earn a spot on the PGA Tour, took a big step in that direction Friday by firing an 8-under 64 that vaulted him into a share of the lead after two rounds of the Houston Open.
Mark Calcavecchia and Fred Couples had long since been in the clubhouse with 11-under 133 totals when Kuehne, playing in the last group of the day, birdied his final hole to tie them.
Kuehne, brother of LPGA Tour member Kelli Kuehne, overcame alcohol problems as a collegian and has been attempting to find a way onto the tour since he captured the U.S. Amateur title in 1998.
After leading the Canadian PGA Tour in money earnings last year, he missed out at last winter's PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. But when he was granted a sponsor's exemption to play in Atlanta earlier this month, he finished tied for third.
That earned him $208,000 and took him about halfway to the total he probably needs to finish among the top 125 this year and gain full exemption for 2004. The finish in Atlanta also earned him a spot in the field this week.
A victory would make Kuehne an instant PGA Tour member with a two-year exemption.
Kuehne is one of the longest hitters in golf and over the first two days of the Houston Open averaged 327.3 yards per tee shot on the holes that are used to keep that statistic.
Calcavecchia shot a 65 Friday at the Redstone Golf Club, which is hosting this tournament for the first time. Couples, who led after the opening round, fired a 68.
Jay Haas was alone in fourth at 134 following a 67 while Paul Stankowski and Vijay Singh shared fifth place at 135.
Ernie Els, a two-time winner in the United States this season and a four-time winner worldwide, was at 138, a number he shared with John Daly and Justin Leonard.
