Chad Campbell eagled his final hole at TPC Summerlin on Friday to seize a share of the lead along with Troy Matteson in a US$4.2 million USPGA Tour event.
Campbell eagled the par-five ninth to complete a nine-under 62 for 129. Matteson followed his career-best first-round 62 with a 67 for 129.
Campbell, who once played for the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, also had seven birdies in a bogey-free round.
Matt Kuchar, coming off a victory two weeks at Turning Stone in the tour’s Fall Series opener, fired a 64 to join Ryan Moore (63), Bob Heintz (67) and Scotland’s Martin Laird (67) on 12-under 130
Moore’s round was highlighted by an eagle at the par-five 16th.
“Every hole is a birdie hole if you can get in position,” Moore said. “So even if you do make a bogey or two, you feel like you can bounce back right away and make some birdies.”
Rickie Fowler carded a 64, America’s 2008 college player of the year getting to 11-under 131 in his first PGA Tour start as a professional.
Three-time Las Vegas winner Jim Furyk was also 11-under after a 67, along with Scott Piercy (67) and overnight co-leader Tom Pernice, who fired a 69.
Pernice, who won his Champions Tour debut last month, had shared the first-round lead with Matteson and Spencer Levin.
Piercy’s wife, Sara, gave birth to their son, Jett, on Thursday night.
Hunter Mahan, who played with Furyk on America’s victorious Presidents Cup team last week, carded a 63 to join a group on 133 that also included Levin.
“Yes, I hit a lot of fairways,” Mahan said. “I gave myself a lot of good looks with some short irons and was able to make some.”
Among those who failed to make the cut at 138 were defending champion Marc Turnesa of Australia and Presidents Cup team member Anthony Kim.
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PORTUGAL MASTERS
REUTERS, VILAMOURA, PORTUGAL
Padraig Harrington was disappointed to miss out on a magical 59 after reeling off 10 birdies in a brilliant 62 in the Portugal Masters second round on Friday.
The triple major champion’s 10-under-par return equaled his previous best and pushed the Irishman within two strokes of leader Francesco Molinari of Italy, who carded a 66 for 129.
South African Charl Schwartzel bogeyed the last for a 65 but held second spot on 130. One behind Harrington on 132 were South African Retief Goosen (64) and Spain’s Pablo Martin (66).
“I was very uncomfortable all day on the greens and will have to improve over the weekend,” said Harrington, who is chasing his first win this year and second European order of merit title.
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