WASHINGTON — Andrew Loupe rolled in a six-foot birdie putt at his last hole to take a one-shot lead over Roberto Castro after two rounds of the Wells Fargo Championship Friday.
Loupe, who shared the overnight lead, had four birdies and three bogeys in his one-under 71 at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.
His eight-under total of 136 put him one in front of fellow American Roberto Castro, who had seven birdies and an eagle at the tough 18th in his six-under 66 for 137.
Chesson Hadley (67) and Mark Hubbard (68) shared third on 138, while five-time major champion Phil Mickelson and former Wells Fargo winner Rickie Fowler were in a group of six players on 139.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland got off to a solid start with three birdies and an eagle on the front nine, but he closed with back-to-back bogeys in a three-under 69 that left him six adrift in a big group on 142.
Loupe is in unfamiliar territory atop the leaderboard, having never been in that position through 36 holes of a PGA Tour event.
Mickelson bogeyed the ninth, his finishing hole, but he was delighted to pick up a shot at the difficult 18th among his three birdies in a two-under 70.
“I scrapped it around,” said Mickelson, who belted an approach from the rough to within 15 feet of the pin at 18, where he’s had his struggles in the past.
“That was a good one,” Mickelson said.
Fowler had five birdies and a bogey in his four-under 68. He and Mickelson were joined on 139 by Steve Wheatcroft, the overnight co-leader who ballooned to a 74, Brian Harman (70), Daniel Berger (71) and Scott Langley (69).
Ryu storms two ahead
In Alabama, South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon birdied five of her last eight holes to power into a two-shot lead after Friday’s second round of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama.
Seeking her fourth LPGA victory, the 2011 US Women’s Open champion fired a flawless seven-under-par 65 despite breezy conditions on the Senator Course at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
Ryu covered her back nine in a sizzling five-under 31 to post a nine-under total of 135.
Australian teen Minjee Lee (70) and Americans Morgan Pressel (68) and Ryan O’Toole (67) were at seven under, with Germany’s Caroline Masson (68), American rookie Annie Park (71) and first-round leader Laetitia Beck (73) a further stroke back.
Seven players were bunched at five under, including Stacy Lewis, who birdied her last two holes for a 68 in pursuit of her first win this season. — Agencies
