AKRON, Ohio — World No. 1 Jason Day birdied two of his last three holes, despite difficult conditions for scoring, to take a one-stroke lead after Friday’s wind-swept second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational here.
The game’s hottest player over the past 12 months with seven tournament wins, Australian Day had a three-putt bogey at the last to card 69 for a four-under total of 136 at Firestone Country Club.
The 28-year-old laid up in two at the par-five 16th before hitting an exquisite wedge to five feet and sinking the birdie putt, and then picked up another shot at the 17th, where he drained a 16-footer from the fringe to earn the outright lead.
Swede David Lingmerth was alone in second after firing a best-of-the-day 67. One stroke further back were first-round leader William McGirt (74), fellow American Scott Piercy (69) and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (71).
“One of those days where you had to really stay patient ... it was really difficult to make birdies,” said Day, who is bidding for a fourth PGA Tour victory this season.
Seventeen players were under par after the opening round but only nine were left in red numbers after 36 holes, having battled in shifting winds on a daunting Firestone layout running firm and fast with a premium on driving accuracy.
Lingmerth, who clinched his first PGA Tour victory at last year’s Memorial Tournament and lost a playoff for the CareerBuilder Challenge in January, made a storming start with four birdies in his first nine holes, before dropping one shot on the inward half.
World number two Jordan Spieth, who salvaged a poor day from tee to green in the opening round with brilliant putting, remained in contention as he carded a 71 to sit just three strokes off the pace, level with fellow Americans Justin Thomas (69) and Kevin Kisner (70), and Australian Adam Scott (68).
Pettersen, Henderson share lead
Suzann Pettersen fired a bogey-free eight-under par 64 Friday to seize a share of the lead with defending champion Brooke Henderson at the halfway stage of the Portland Classic.
The 15-time LPGA Tour winner shot a 69 Thursday and is level with Canada’s Henderson at 11-under 133.
First-round leader Henderson was mistake-free through her first 16 holes Friday, compiling 12 pars and four birdies on the Columbia Edgewater Country Club course in Portland, Oregon.
The Canadian teenager recovered from her lone bogey of the day at 17 with a birdie on the final hole.
Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe sits alone in third place at 134 after a 67.
Angela Stanford (71), Austin Ernst (66) and Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg (68) share fourth place at 138.
Tied for seventh at 139 are Lee Lopez (68), Thailand’s Primma Thammaraks (69) and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda.
Chalmers grabs 2-point lead
Australian Greg Chalmers, still seeking his first US PGA title after 386 career starts, birdied four of the last six holes Friday to seize a two-point lead halfway through the Barracuda Championship.
The unique tournament uses the Modified Stableford scoring system that awards eight points for an albatross, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, zero for par, minus-one for a bogey and minus-three for any worse score.
Chalmers made six birdies and two bogeys at Montreux Golf and Country Club in Reno, Nevada, for 10 points Friday and 24 after two days.
Scotland’s Martin Laird and American Gary Woodland shared second on 22 points, followed by American Colt Knost on 21, American Brendan Steele on 20 and Aussie Rhein Gibson on 19. — Agencies
