Former UNLV standout Campbell makes big second-round move into contention

Chad Campbell decided he no longer could wait to make his move.

The former UNLV All-American saw the numbers going lower and lower Friday at TPC Summerlin, and he shifted his game into high gear, posting a 7-under-par 64 in the second round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open to get to 10-under 132, three shots off the lead heading into today's third round.

"You know it's going to take low numbers out here," Campbell said. "Could be 13, 14 before the day is over. So you never know."

Campbell's short game was working well as he was able to get close to the pins and then drain his putts.

"I made a few more (Friday)," Campbell said. "I hit it about the same, but I got a few putts to fall, and that was the difference."

Campbell, who lost in a playoff to Martin Laird last year, has put himself in contention, and that's all he can ask for.

"I feel like I'm playing well, and if I can keep hitting it close and make a few putts, we'll see what happens," he said.

■ REBEL ROUNDUP -- Campbell wasn't the only ex-Rebel to play well Friday.

Chris Riley shot a 4-under 67, thanks to three straight birdies, for a two-day total of 135. Warren Schutte made the cut with a second straight 2-under 69, putting him at the cut line of 4-under 138.

Charley Hoffman bounced back from his opening-round 74 with a 4-under 67, but it wasn't enough to keep him playing into the weekend as his 1-under 141 wasn't good enough to make the cut.

Also missing the cut were Bill Lunde, who had a two-round total of 140 after a 68 on Friday, and Eddie Olson, who had a two-day total of 144 in his first PGA Tour event. Olson had a 2-over 73 on Friday.

■ CUT NOTABLES -- Rocco Mediate was unable to sustain his success from last week, when he won the Frys.com Open, as he failed to make the cut after a second-round 1-under 70 and two-day total of 141.

Joining Mediate on the sidelines were Rory Sabbatini, Lee Janzen and Jeff Maggert.

■ RAIN HURTS GATE -- The inclement weather kept a lot of people home. Despite ticket sales being up over last year for the same day, many fans elected not to come out to TPC Summerlin.

Tournament director Adam Sperling understands.

"We were down about 500 from last year for (Friday)," Sperling said. "But given the weather, that's not too bad."

Sperling said advance ticket sales are good for the weekend, and he's hoping the gallery will exceed 5,000 today or Sunday.

"We've been trying to get past that number the past couple of years," Sperling said. "Hopefully we'll have good weather and a good leaderboard and people will come out."

■ CONCERT SOLD OUT -- No matter how well the tournament fares at the turnstiles this weekend, tonight's Justin Timberlake and Friends concert at Planet Hollywood already is a financial success.

The event, which is sold out and is expected to gross more than $1 million for the Shriners, will have Elton John, Christina Aguilera, Lady Antebellum, T-Pain, Salt-N-Pepa, Selena Gomez and Free Sol joining Timberlake onstage.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.