Briton Donald retains lead at Waialae

HONOLULU, Jan 13 (Reuters) Britain's Luke Donald birdied three of the last four holes to move two shots clear in the second round of the Sony Open.

One ahead at the start of the day, Donald tightened his grip by firing a flawless four-under-par 66 in bright afternoon sunshine at Waialae Country Club yesterday.

That left him at 11-under 129, with American Chad Campbell (65) in second place.

Level with Campbell was compatriot Paul Goydos, five under for the day with four holes to play.

American Charles Howell III was a further stroke back at eight under, having rolled in a seven-foot eagle putt on his final hole, the par-five ninth, for a joint best-of-the-week 63.

Hawaiian teenager Michelle Wie, whose bid to make the cut was left in tatters after she opened with a 78, was struggling at 11 over with five holes to play.

Donald, who shot a 63 in the first round, began another breezy day on the Hawaiian island of Oahu quietly with seven successive pars before holing an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-four eighth.

Out in one-under 34, he finally broke clear of the pack after hitting superb approach shots to within nine feet of the flag on 15 and 16.

EAGLE ATTEMPT He then finished in style, reaching the green in two at the par-five 18th and narrowly missing his eagle attempt from 27 feet.

For much of the day, Campbell held the outright lead at nine under after reeling off five birdies in a blemish-free display.

The 32-year-old Texan chipped in from 25 feet to birdie the par-four second and picked up further shots at the third and ninth to reach the turn in three-under 32.

His two birdies on the back nine included another chip-in at the par-four 12th before he salvaged a par at the last after missing the fairway off the tee.

''I played pretty solid all day,'' three-times PGA Tour winner Campbell told reporters. ''I made some putts and, when I did miss a fairway, I always had a shot at the green.

''The chip-in on two got me going and I made a good putt from 15 feet at the third.

''This is one of my favourite courses that we play all year,'' added the American, who tied for second at Waialae last year.

''I just like the way it's kind of old-style and traditional. It really fits my eye.'' The halfway cut was projected to fall at one-over 141.

REUTERS YA RAI1004