PACIFIC PALISADES, California — Journeyman Jason Kokrak, best known for his power hitting, moved one shot clear after the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday as world number one Jordan Spieth missed the cut.
American Kokrak, whose best PGA Tour finish was a tie for second at the 2012 Frys.com Open, charged to the top of the leaderboard with a sparkling seven-under-par 64 on a sun-splashed day at Riviera Country Club.
The 30-year-old racked up eight birdies, including five in his last nine holes, and a lone bogey to post a 10-under total of 132, ending the day a stroke in front of compatriot Chez Reavie.
However, several big names were in close pursuit, including nine-time PGA Tour winner Dustin Johnson, twice Masters champion Bubba Watson and world No. 3 Rory McIlroy.
Johnson (66) and left-hander Watson (68) were just two shots off the pace with McIlroy a further two strokes back at six under after carding a roller-coaster 69.
“You definitely can call upon past experiences,” Kokrak, a double winner on the satellite Web.com Tour, told reporters. “I’ve put myself in that position enough times that I can go out there, stick to my game plan and just hit golf shots.”
The cut fell at level-par 142 with Masters and US Open champion Spieth the biggest name to miss out after adding a 68 to his shocking opening round of 79.
“I can certainly take positives out of today’s round,” Spieth said after mixing eight birdies with five bogeys.
Three share lead
South Korea’s Jenny Shin, Japan’s Haru Nomura and American Danielle Kang shared the lead Saturday heading into the final round of the LPGA-sanctioned Australian Open at The Grange in Adelaide.
The trio are on nine-under 207 just ahead of world No.1 Lydia Ko and Australia’s five-time winner Karrie Webb after 54 holes.
Shin carded a two-under 70, along with Nomura, while Kang fired a five-under 67. Nomura, 23, birdied the last hole to get herself into Sunday’s final group.
Poised for the final charge assault are Ko and Webb, just one shot off the pace.
Lee takes 3-stroke lead
South Korea’s Lee Soo-min put on a sizzling display with his irons to top the Maybank Championship Malaysia leaderboard Saturday, opening a three-shot lead over closest rival Marcus Fraser after the third round.
Lee fired home nine birdies, including four in a row on the back nine, for a 7-under 64 to move to a total of 15-under 198 at Royal Selangor Golf Club.
Fraser had a 66 to be outright second, a stroke ahead of Australian compatriot and second-round leader Nathan Holman, who struggled with four birdies and a double bogey en route to a 73.
Lee, ranked 221 in the world, last won a title at the Gunsan CC Open on the Korean Tour last year.
The trio of Masahiro Kawamura, Jorge Campillo and Miguel Tabuena trail Lee by five shots in a tie for fourth.
Malaysian Open champion Thongchai Jaidee was struck by illness and pulled out of the tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours. — Agencies
