CHAMPIONS

• Roberts rolls into Bank of America Championship lead

  
  

  Concord, MA (Sports Network) - Loren Roberts fired a six-under 66 Saturday to move one stroke clear of the field after two rounds of the Bank of America Championship.

  Roberts completed 36 holes at 10-under-par 134. The seven-time winner on the Champions Tour is looking for his first title since last year's Senior Players Championship.

  First-round leader Tom Kite carded an up-and-down round of 72. He was joined in second place at minus-nine by Jeff Sluman (67) and Mark McNulty (70).

  Bobby Wadkins posted a five-under 67 and is alone in fifth at eight-under 136.

  Roberts started the day five shots behind Kite. Roberts began to make his move with back-to-back birdies from the third and followed with an eagle at the par-five fifth.

  The 52-year-old drained a 40-foot birdie putt on the eighth to get to minus- nine. He faltered to a double-bogey at the ninth, but quickly came back with a birdie on the 10th at Nashawtuc Country Club.

  Roberts' birdie on the par-three 13th gave him a share of the lead at nine- under. He dropped in a 15-foot birdie putt at the 16th to move one ahead.

  After a three-putt bogey on the 17th, Roberts two-putted for birdie at the last to finish at 10-under.

  "Not sure why I didn't come here the first few years," said Roberts, who is playing this event for the first time. "I came back from the double-bogey nicely. I've got to shoot under par tomorrow to win." Kite was even par for his round through six holes with two bogeys and two birdies.

  He dropped another stroke on the eighth, but Kite got back to minus- nine with a birdie on 12.

  However, he gave that shot right back with a bogey on 13. Kite wrapped birdies on 16 and 18 around a bogey at the 17th.

  "I played a poor round today. I struggled with the ball-striking, but putted great," Kite stated. "I hope to shoot a good round tomorrow and have a chance to win." Sluman fired a bogey-free round that started with birdies on the second and fourth. He ran off three birdies in a four-hole span from the ninth to briefly grab the lead at nine-under. Sluman parred the final six holes.

  "I hit lots of good shots and I'm pleased," Sluman admitted. "It's an old style course that you have to think your way around." McNulty posted two birdies and two bogeys between the sixth and 10th holes. After three pars in a row, McNulty birdied the 14th and 18th to join Kite and Sluman in second at minus-nine.

  Mark Wiebe (67), David Eger (72), Dana Quigley (68), Keith Fergus (66), John Morse (70) and Massy Kuramoto (69) share sixth place at seven-under-par 137.

  06/21 17:42:58 ET