PAYNEFUL FINISH; STEWART LEADS DESPITE BACK-NINE MELTDOWN.

Byline: Ron Green Jr. Charlotte Observer

Payne Stewart said he watched the Putt-Putt championship on television Friday morning before going to the Olympic Club for the second round of the U.S. Open.

He felt like he was watching it again Friday afternoon.

After seeing what had been a four-shot lead melt away on the back nine, Stewart escaped with a one-shot lead over Jeff Maggert and Bob Tway midway through the Open despite a bizarre 3-putt at the 18th hole.

Stewart added a 1-over-par 71 to his opening 66 for a 36-hole total of 3-under 137. Maggert had his second straight 69 Friday while Tway shot 70.

Amateur Matt Kuchar, Lee Porter and 1993 U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen were another shot back at 1-under 139.

Several players expected to challenge for the championship barely made the 36-hole cut. Tiger Woods finished at 6-over 146, Colin Montgomerie was at 144 and Fred Couples bogeyed six of his last seven holes to finish at 5-over 145.

Stewart's finish added a strange twist to the day.

After hitting a pitching wedge approach shot 10 feet right of the hole, Stewart's birdie putt broke under the hole then ever so slowly trickled down the hill 25 feet from the cup. He 2-putted from there for a bogey.

As he walked up the hill behind the 18th green late Friday, Stewart let the USGA official with him know what he thought of the pin position at No. 18. Stewart basically told him he didn't want a photo of it on his Christmas cards this year.

``I wear my emotions on my shirt,'' Stewart said.

It's a good thing he didn't wear them on his black, white and red plaid knickers Friday. They had too much on them already.

``That green is bordering on ridiculous where they have the pin,'' Stewart said.

Tom Lehman would second that sentiment.

He 4-putted the same green from 35 feet for a double-bogey that sent him to 3-over par. Lehman's 8-foot second putt up the hill did a 360 around the cup then wound up behind where Lehman had been standing. He 2-putted from there.

Those things happen in U.S. Opens, especially when the sun comes out, the wind starts to blow and the greens get as firm as asphalt.

Coming off three straight birdies to close Thursday's first round, Stewart ran off three more to start Friday's second round, giving him six in a row and proof that the Olympic monster has a soft side.

Then he found out otherwise.

Cruising along in bright sunshine late Friday with a four-shot lead, Stewart bogeyed three of the last five holes to come rushing back to the field in classic U.S. Open style.

``I'm not going to run away with it. That doesn't happen in the Open,'' said Stewart, the 1991 Open champion.

Maggert, who has three top-10 finishes in the past four Opens, turned in his usual solid performance as did Tway, who birdied the final hole.

Janzen was tied for the lead with Stewart but double-bogeyed the 17th hole to fall back.

Then there was Kuchar, who is as irrepressible as his smile.

Two months ago at the Masters, Kuchar owned the place with his ear-to-ear grin and his Opie Taylor style.

The scene has changed this week but Kuchar, who just finished his sophomore year at Georgia Tech, hasn't.

He's still rocking along to his own beat, high-fiving his cheerleading dad/caddy and acting like he beats the best players in the world all the time.

``We'll see how well I handle the last two days here,'' Kuchar said, flashing the gee-whiz smile that has agents counting dollar signs in anticipation of the day he turns pro.

Playing with defending Open champion Ernie Els and British Open champion Justin Leonard the first two days, Kuchar's 70-69 beat both players both days.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Color) Amateur Matt Kuchar not only won the affection of the gallery, but he's in position to win the tournament. He's two shots off the lead.

Bob Galbraith/Associated Press

(2) Tiger Woods can't believe his putt on the sixth fell short in the U.S. Open. Woods, at 6-over 146, barely made the cut.

Michael S. Green/Associated Press

BOX: SECOND-ROUND LEADERS