Claxton alone in the lead at Q School
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Will Claxton posted a two-under 70 on Thursday to take sole possession of the lead after the second round of PGA Tour Q School.
Claxton finished 36 holes at 10-under 134 and is one stroke ahead.
The six-round marathon for PGA Tour cards in 2012 began on Wednesday. Play rotates between the Nicklaus Tournament Course and TPC Stadium Course at PGA West.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Heavy wind greeted players on Thursday and scores weren't nearly as low as they were on Wednesday.
Claxton played the TPC Stadium Course on Thursday.
The low 25 players after Monday's final round will earn PGA Tour cards for next season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The next number of finishers nearest 50 after the Qualifying Tournament will earn fully exempt Nationwide Tour cards for 2012 and the remainder of the field will receive conditional Nationwide Tour status.
Matt Jones (68) and Harris English (67) share second place at nine-under 135. Jones was on the TPC Stadium Course, while English teed it up at the Nicklaus Course on Thursday.
Billy Hurley III carded a one-under 71 at the Nicklaus Course at is alone in fourth at minus-eight.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There are several former major winners in the field this week trying to reclaim past glory.
Shaun Micheel, the 2003 PGA Champion, shot a three-over 75 and is tied for 47th at minus-two.
Former British Open winner and world No. 1 David Duval and 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem are part of a large group tied for 81st at even-par.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two-time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen shares 108th at plus-two.
Claxton began on the 10th tee Thursday and parred his first five holes. He birdied the par-four 15th and the par-three 17th to reach 10-under par for the championship.
On his second nine, Claxton parred four in a row before his first dropped shot of the tournament, a bogey at the par-five fifth. He atoned for the error with a birdie at the par-three sixth to get back to 10-under.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He parred his last three for sole possession of the lead.
First-round co-leader Daniel Summerhays struggled to a one-over 73 at the Nicklaus Course on Thursday and fell into a tie for fifth with Alexandre Rocha (70), Bobby Gates (70) and former U.S. Ryder Cupper Vaughn Taylor (72). The group finished at minus-seven.
NOTES: Claxton played this year's Transitions Championship on the PGA Tour and tied for 67th. He had one top 20 on the Nationwide Tour in 2011...Brenden Pappas withdrew on Thursday.