Putnam one clear in Columbus

Golf Betting Lines

07/23/2010 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Putnam carded a two-under 69 in windy conditions Friday to grab a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational.

Putnam, who is in search of his first Nationwide Tour title, completed 36 holes at six-under-par 136.

Scott Brown stumbled to a one-over 72, but remained in second place at minus- five. He was joined there by Camilo Benedetti (70), Nick Flanagan (71) and Alistair Presnell (69).

Russell Henley, one of the 10 amateurs in this week's field, carded a one- under 70 in round two and is one of eight players tied for sixth at four- under-par 138.

Putnam parred the first three holes before converting his first birdie chance on the par-five fourth on the Scarlet Course at Ohio State University Golf Club.

The 27-year-old moved to six-under with a birdie on the par-four seventh. He stumbled to a bogey on the ninth to turn at minus-five.

Around the turn, Putnam ran off six consecutive pars from the 10th. He moved back to six-under with a birdie on the 16th. Putnam parred the final two holes to take the second-round lead.

"Anything under par is a good round today," admitted Putnam. "The wind is the worst for golfers. It just blows the ball everywhere and it's tough conditions to play in."

Brown started on the 10th and opened with a bogey. He faltered to a double- bogey on 11, but got one stroke back with a birdie on 12. He bogeyed 15 before a birdie on 17.

He headed to the front nine at three-over for his round and minus-three overall after a bogey at the 18th. Brown birdied the first and third to get back to five-under. After a bogey on six, he birdied No. 8 to share second.

Flanagan birdied two of the first three holes, but dropped shots on the sixth and seventh. He parred the final 11 holes.

Presnell mixed four birdies and two bogeys in his round.

Benedetti tripped to a bogey at three, but birdied three of the next six holes to turn at minus-six. On the back nine, he carded eight pars and a bogey to share second place.

Henley shares sixth place with David Mathis (67), D.J. Brigman (72), Patrick Sheehan (68), Aaron Watkins (67), Kyle Stanley (71), Bronson La'Cassie (69) and Matthew Borchert (70).

First-round leader Jonathan Kaye followed his course-record 63 on Thursday with a five-over 76 Friday. That dropped him into a share of 14th at minus- three.

NOTES: Daniel Summerhays, who became the first amateur to win on the Nationwide Tour when he captured the 2008 crown, is the only past champion in the field this week. He shot 72 Friday and is tied with Kaye in 14th place...Morgan Hoffmann was the only other amateur to make the cut, which fell at one-over-par 143...Seventy-two players made the cut, but Kevin Chappell, Bobby Gates and Martin Piller, who stand third, fifth and sixth on the Nationwide Tour money list, failed to make it to the weekend.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.