* Fowler and Chappell one stroke back
* Tournament host Woods trails by three
(Adds Ishikawa quotes, detail, paras five-six)
July 31 (Reuters) - Ryo Ishikawa sank a 30-footer at the
last for a third consecutive birdie to edge a stroke in front
after the second round while Tiger Woods also charged into
contention at the Quicken Loans National in Virginia on Friday.
Ishikawa, seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour after
twice finishing second, fired a three-under-par 68 on another
hot, sunny day at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville to
head a tightly-bunched leaderboard.
The 23-year-old Japanese, co-leader overnight with South
African veteran Retief Goosen, mixed seven birdies with four
bogeys to post an 11-under total of 131, one ahead of Americans
Rickie Fowler (65) and Kevin Chappell (68).
Swede David Lingmerth (65) was alone at nine under while
tournament host Woods was a further stroke back with eight other
players after carding a 66 on a receptive, rain-softened layout.
"It wasn't a perfect round through 15 holes but the last
three holes it was perfect, especially the 16th tee shot,"
grinned Ishikawa, who ended up just two inches from an ace with
a nine-iron off the 16th tee.
"18 birdie putt, it was kind of like a surprise ... but that
was a nice finish, yeah. My goal this weekend is like 15-under,
16 under," he said of his target for the 72 regulation holes.
Woods, who has mainly struggled on the PGA Tour this season
while working through his latest swing change as he recovers
from back surgery, piled up six birdies and a bogey to rocket up
the leaderboard.
"I hit the ball really well today, but I missed a few
putts," Woods said after posting his lowest opening 36-hole
total on the U.S. circuit since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone
Invitational. "This could have been a really low one."
Now ranked a lowly 266th in the world, Woods said he was
given extra motivation on Friday after a popped up tee shot at
the 14th, his fifth hole of the day, led to his only bogey of
the round.
"It got me a little fired up," smiled Woods, who finished
level with eight others, including fellow Americans Pat Perez
(67), Charles Howell III (67) and Jimmy Walker (63), Englishman
Greg Owen (68) and South Korean Kim Meen-whee (66).
"Got me a little more focused on what I'm doing out there
instead of just hitting a shot."
World number eight Fowler, who won the prestigious Players
Championship in May followed by the European Tour's Scottish
Open earlier this month, soared into a tie for second with a
rousing birdie-birdie-birdie finish.
"It was nice to finish the way I did," the 26-year-old told
Golf Channel. "I really didn't do a whole lot special, just
birdying the last three made the round a special one today."