Steele leads Texas by 3 shots

SAN ANTONIO — Brendan Steele took advantage of relatively calm conditions at one of his favorite venues to earn a three-shot lead in the second round of the weather-disrupted Texas Open in San Antonio Friday. American Steele, the 2011 champion, mixed six birdies with two bogeys and a double at the par-four 15th to card two-under 70 on the rain-softened Oaks layout at TPC San Antonio. In pursuit of his second career win on the PGA Tour, he posted a 10-under total of 134 to match the tournament’s 36-hole low set by compatriot Ben Curtis in 2012. Americans Scott Langley (68) and Charley Hoffman (71) shared second place on seven-under with Australian Stuart Appleby, who recovered from a nightmare start to shoot 70. Appleby four-putted from seven feet at his first hole, the 10th, twice missing from two feet before finally holing out for a triple bogey. Asked later to describe the horrid series of putts, the nine-time PGA Tour winner invoked the memory of the late Seve Ballesteros. “When Seve had a four-putt many, many years ago, they asked him ‘Seve, how did you have a four-putt,’” Appleby said. “(Seve replied) ‘I miss, I miss, I miss, I make’. I think that’s how it was. I was swatting at it. There was a golf ball in the way.” A Thursday weather delay spilled over into Friday, with a handful of players unable to complete the second round before darkness, though everyone near the lead finished. The cut will fall at even-par 144, with South African Branden Grace, winner of last week’s Heritage Classic, advancing on the number after consecutive rounds of 72. Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els were among those set to miss the cut. Nomura moves three strokes clear In San Francisco, Japan’s Haru Nomura produced a strong finish on the tougher back nine to take a three-shot lead after the second round at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic Friday. The 23-year-old bided her time with 11 consecutive pars, before rolling in 12-foot birdies at the next two holes as she signed for a two-under-par 70 to move clear of the field in a testing breeze at the Lake Merced Golf Club. Australian teenager Minjee Lee continued her strong form when she surged into a share of second with a bogey-free 65. Lee was joined at six-under by overnight leader Ryu So-yeon (75) and Choi Na-yeon (70) of South Korea, with two-time defending champion Lydia Ko a further shot back after two late bogeys. Ko, who turns 19 Sunday, is seeking to become the youngest player to win an LPGA event for three consecutive years.