Bernhard Langer plodded his way to an even-par 72 on Saturday, good enough to maintain the lead at the Insperity Invitational as the leaderboard bunched up behind him.
Langer was at 9-under 135 and had a one-shot lead over three players after he followed up his course-record-tying opening-round 63 by making just two birdies and two bogeys at The Woodlands Country Club. The second bogey was especially painful, following his birdie on the par-5 15th with a missed 2-footer on the par-3 16th.
The 60-year-old German, a three-time winner of the Houston-area event, is seeking his first victory of 2018 after seven wins last year.
Tom Pernice Jr. (68), Miguel Angel Jimenez (69), Mark Calcavecchia (69) and Scott Dunlap (70) were one stroke behind. Bart Bryant (67) and local favorite Jeff Maggert (71) trailed by two.
Kenny Perry birdied four of the final five holes for a 65, the low round of the day, and was one of eight players sitting three shots back.
