BETHESDA -- Allen Barber of Yorktown, Va., shot a par-matching 72 in the annual Middle Atlantic Amateur championship yesterday to move into the lead after the second round with a total of 148 in the tournament at Congressional Country Club.

Tim Landres of Rockville also posted 72, and was a stroke back at 149, followed by Trevor Randolph, a Congressional CC member now living in Houston, who moved into contention with the second-low round of the day, a 71, after opening with a 79.

Joe Records of Timonium and Hillendale CC improved the greatest number of strokes when he returned the best score, a 2-under-par 70, for a 36-hole total of 158. His card included six pTC birdies, four on the front nine, as he returned 34-36.

Although the weather conditions improved from Thursday's wind-blown round that send scores skyward, only two others in the field of 105 were able to better 155.

Jim Sullivan of Meadowbrook, Pa., had 76-77--153, and Matt McCoy of Denver, Colo., had 76-78--154.

The cut came at a modern-day record high of 164, and 60 players will continue today.

A cut to the low 40 and ties will be made for tomorrow's final round.

(Scores, 9C)

Pub Date: 10/03/98