Parel extends lead at Principal Charity Classic

Scott Parel continued to put distance between himself and the field Saturday at the Principal Charity Classic, firing a 6-under-par 66 to take a five-shot lead after two rounds at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa.

Parel, a two-time PGA Tour Champions winner, followed up his bogey-free 63 with another bogey-free day that included three birdies on the front and three more on the back. His 15-under 129 total broke the tournament's 36-hole record of 13 under, set last year by eventual winner Tom Lehman.

"I like how I'm playing," said Parel, whose 63 tied the course record. "Somebody's going to have to play good to beat me."

Marco Dawson (65) and Jerry Kelly (67) are tied for second at 10 under. Dawson's up-and-down round included an eagle, eight birdies and three bogeys, while Kelly stayed steady with 13 pars, an eagle and three birdies.

Gene Sauers (68), David Toms (68) and Billy Andrade (69) are tied for fourth at 9 under.

Parel entered Saturday with a two-shot lead on Chris DiMarco, who fell 11 shots back after shooting a 75 that included a triple-bogey.

Despite his sizeable lead, Parel knows better than to relax during the final round.

"I've played with these guys enough to know that somebody back there probably is going to shoot seven to nine under (par)," Parel said. "There's no let up."

Dawson said his game plan will remain the same for Sunday, no matter what happens elsewhere on the leaderboard.

"You don't have any control over (Parel's) game. He doesn't have any control over your game. So if he plays great, great," Dawson said. "You don't want to change your strategy, so to speak."

Last week's winner Ken Tanigawa is tied for 43rd at 2 under after shooting 70 on Saturday, while defending champ Lehman shot 69 to move up into a tie for 21st at 4 under. Money leader Scott McCarron shot 67 and is tied for ninth at 7 under.

--Field Level Media