KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii » In the movie “;Spaceballs,”; the character Dark Helmet issues a memorable quote that Brad Bryant likens to playing golf at Hualalai.

As Bryant exited the media center after yesterday's second round of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship, he turned around and said, “;Yes, we're gonna have to go right to ludicrous speed.”;

Well, if Bryant wants to hang on to win the season-opening event on the Champions Tour he might have to do just that. He fired a 7-under 65 yesterday to complement his first-day score of 64 quite nicely, but only leads Bernhard Langer (66) by one, Jay Haas (66) by two, and Hale Irwin (67) and Jeff Sluman (67) by three.

Is he worried about having such Hall of Fame names right in his rearview mirror?

Nope.

Is he concerned he plays the front nine so well, but struggles on the back?

Nope, again.

So what will be the key in today's final round?

“;It's a strange golf tournament because you have to see who can make the most putts the longest,”; Bryant said. “;That's the issue here. It takes the focus off the ball-striking and on the putting. Whoever makes the most 15-footers wins.”;

Bryant has made his fair share with 17 the first two days of the senior circuit's season. He began his round with a 22-footer for birdie and ended with a 12-footer for birdie to hold off playing partner Langer, who lipped out more putts than he made. He, too, has 17 birdies and remained close enough to be in the final pairing with Bryant for a second consecutive day.

“;I played every bit as good as I did yesterday, maybe even better,”; said Langer, who birdied nine of his final 12 holes to equal Bryant's opening-day 64. “;I didn't get quite as much out of the round. I had at least four, possibly five or six lip-outs. On top of that, I hit a beautiful shot (at the par-3 12th) where I thought I really had to step on my wedge.

“;And it carried maybe 4 or 5 yards past the hole and right into the back bunker, where I had no shot. I ended up making a bogey, which looked like it was a birdie because it was such a beautiful shot. It's one of those things. It's golf. If I make a 2 on that hole instead of a 4, I'm in the lead.”;

Not that anyone is going to feel too sorry for the German. Haas' story here is even more star-crossed. He's had 11 rounds in the 60s and has never won, finishing third, fifth and third the last three years. He even shot a 63 the last day in 2006 only to lose to Loren Roberts, who fashioned a final-round 61.

“;This is actually my first trip to the media room,”; Haas said, despite his stellar numbers.

“;I've finished third, fifth and third, and I've never seen the media room. But I don't dwell on that (shooting all rounds in the 60s, but never winning). I use it as a positive knowing I've played well here. I'm not really frustrated—I just didn't shoot low enough or somebody just beat me.”;

There were 21 rounds in the 60s, with four golfers equaling Bryant's 7-under 65. Irwin and Sluman were paired yesterday, with both shooting 5-under 67s to keep themselves within shouting distance of the lead. Andy Bean is alone in sixth after fashioning a 6-under 66 early on, but by day's end he lost a shot to Bryant and is four shots off the lead.

“;You can't let up one hole around here,”; Bean said. “;I figure I need to shoot a 63 or a 64 to have any chance.”;

If Irwin shoots his age (63), he might come away with his third win here in a record 14 straight appearances. But he's not thinking about that just yet.

“;I'm just happy to be in the top 10 again,”; said Irwin, who managed none of those in 2008. “;You know when you come here, you have to go low all three days. If you can do that, you give yourself a chance to win. And that's all you can ask. A 63 would be amazing.”;

It would be ludicrous speed, but that's what it takes to tame Hualalai.