Bettencourt lets lead slip in Nevada

Golf: Matt Bettencourt bogeyed his final two holes to fall into a tie for the lead with fellow-American Robert Garrigus at the…

Golf:Matt Bettencourt bogeyed his final two holes to fall into a tie for the lead with fellow-American Robert Garrigus at the halfway stage of the Reno-Tahoe Open in Reno, Nevada.

Bettencourt, who led by one stroke after an opening-round of six-under-par 66, posted a 68 after his slip-up at the eighth and ninth holes to share a 10-under-par 134 total with Garrigus.

Garrigus, like Bettencourt looking for his first USPGA Tour victory in a field bereft of the big names, who are playing in the British Open at St Andrews, made three successive birdies from the second hole and added four more birdies after the turn in a bogey-free round of 65.

Two strokes off the pace with 136 at Montreux Golf and Country Club was American John Mallinger after a 67, with compatriots Bob Heintz, Bill Lunde, John Merrick and Kevin Stadler another shot adrift.