Gene Sauers takes 2-stroke lead in Boeing Classic

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:47 p.m. ET

foxsports

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (AP) Gene Sauers took the Boeing Classic lead Saturday, two weeks after his breakthrough victory in the U.S. Senior Open.

The 54-year-old Sauers two-putted for birdie on the par-5 18th for a 5-under 67 and a two-stroke lead over Joe Durant. The three-time PGA Tour winner had a 12-under 132 total at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge.

Durant birdied the last for a 65. He won the 3M Championship three weeks ago in Minnesota.

Tom Byrum and Stephen Ames were 9 under. Byrum had a 68, and Ames shot 69.

Kirk Triplett, tied for the first-round lead with Sauers after a 65, had a 71 to drop into a tie for fifth at 8 under.

Bernhard Langer also was 8 under after a 67. The 58-year-old German star won the 2010 tournament and finished second behind Billy Andrade last year. Langer has three victories this year, two of them majors.