On a day when no one approached his first-round 66, Lonnie Nielsen showed that he might be poised to step up a level on the Champions Tour. After an opening-round 66, the question mark was preceded by the thought: can he hold up? After three consecutive bogeys on holes 3-5, two letters seemed the imminent answer. It was then that the calm of the Iowan and the warrior within reached deeper, together, to summon four birdies over the next 13 holes. Some might suggest that the worst is over, that he held it together, that he is still tied for the lead. Saturday is not called moving day for no reason, however. And Sunday is the pressure cooker. Lonnie has survived only one of three difficult days. By putting together solid, subpar rounds on the weekend, he just might hoist a special cup on Sunday.

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