Everyone at the TPC Southwind wanted a nice warmup for the U.S. Open. They got as good a simulation as possible yesterday in Memphis, Tenn., thanks to gusting wind and firm greens that made par an attractive score.

Tommy Armour III double-bogeyed No. 18 and fell into a six-way tie atop the leaderboard after two rounds at the Stanford St. Jude Championship on a day where only 13 players were under par. It was the most players tied for the lead at the halfway point on the PGA Tour since a six-way tie last year at the Shell Houston Open.

Armour finished with a 71. He was tied with Gavin Coles, whose 64 was the low round through the first two days, Hawai'i's Dean Wilson (68), Jason Dufner (68), Michael Bradley (68) and Marc Turnesa (69) at 3-under 137 — the highest 36-hole total on the PGA Tour since Angel Cabrera at the Open last year when he was at even par-140.

Wilson, a Castle High graduate from Kane'ohe, started the second round in a tie for 11th, and had five birdies and three bogeys.

Coles credited patience for his six-birdie, bogey-free round in an event where the cut came at 5 over.

"It's pretty slow out there really. So you can sort of back off and have another look and sort of take a bit of time, sort of wait for the gusts to go by," he said. "It was difficult, but you now I think if you putted well today you would have had a pretty decent score. ... When I did get in trouble, my putter sort of got me out of it a little."

Vijay Singh started the day in third, two strokes back of the lead at 3 under. He finished with a 71 and was tied for seventh with Alex Cejka (69), Michael Letzig (68) and Davis Love III (70) at 138.

So even though the TPC at Southwind never will be mistaken for what they will face at the U.S. Open, Singh called it a good test for those tuning up for Torrey Pines with the gusting winds making club selection difficult.

"It gets you in the game, keeps you very focused. You can lose your focus out there. Once you do that, you're going to shoot a number," Singh said.

Boo Weekley was the first-round leader, and his one-stroke margin held up until midway through the afternoon.

He was atop the leaderboard at 5 under, then made the turn on to the front nine where he carded three bogeys and a double bogey to finish with a 75 for a 140 total.

LPGA CHAMPIONSHIP

OCHOA LEADS BY ONE

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — Lorena Ochoa had 17 good chances at birdie yesterday and made enough of them for her lowest round ever in the McDonald's LPGA Championship, a 7-under 65 that left her in great shape to pursue a third straight major championship.

Even with half the field taking advantage of steamy weather and soft greens at Bulle Rock, Ochoa gave them an intimidating target.

Ochoa's final birdie came from 20 feet on the 18th hole at Bulle Rock and put her at 10-under 134, one shot ahead of Lindsey Wright (68) among those players who teed off early.

"I think today was my best round in the season," said Ochoa, a bold statement considering she has won six times in nine starts. "I think it's just good to be in the lead ... because my name means something, you know?"