Nick Price holds a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Wachovia Championship in North Carolina.

Price shot a second-round 71

Price was not at his best but managed three birdies along with two bogeys en route to a one-under-par 71 in demanding, breezy conditions.

"It was a scruffy day for me," the 46-year-old three-time major champion said. "I went through a period where I could not even hit a green, mainly because I couldn't stop the ball in the fairway."

"I got away with not hitting the ball very well, and the reason is because I'm putting as well as I could possibly putt. My putter saved me on three or four occasions on the back nine."

Price admitted if his driving does not improve, he will struggle over the weekend.

"If my putting goes off a little bit and I play like I did, I'm going to shoot 74 or 75," he said.

Price is seven-under at the halfway stage, with first-round co-leader Fred Couples and J.P Hayes sharing second place a stroke behind.

Couples got to nine-under after seven holes before bogeying three of the next four, but he steadied the ship to finish with a 72.

"It's such a hard course," he said. "You know pars are going to be premium and you're going to make some bogeys. I feel good where I'm at."

Rich Beem, Brandt Jobe, Charles Howell III, Robert Gamez and David Toms are a shot further back.

Rosie Jones leads at the halfway stage of the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship in North Augusta.

Jones, who is looking for her first win in two years, shared the lead after the first round with Sophie Gustafson of Sweden.

But a four-under-par 68 took her a stroke clear of Wendy Ward on 10 under at 134.

After lipping out a 60-footer for birdie at the 18th hole, she credited her putter for her form.

"It has been getting a little bit better, gradually," said Jones, who leads the Tour in putting average.

"I needed to make a couple of putts and have some confidence, and that is happening this week."

She is in line to become the first American winner on the LPGA Tour after eight events this season.

"I want to break that streak," she admitted. "I don't care about beating all the international players because I have to beat them anyways.

"I want to beat all the Americans, too."

Laura Diaz, Marcy Hart and Pat Hurst are tied for third on eight under at 136.

The top foreigners are defending champion Janice Moodie of Scotland, Hee-Won Han of Korea and Italy's Giulia Sergas on six under at 138.

Swedish superstar Annika Sorenstam is skipping the event as she prepares for her historic PGA Tour start in two weeks.