DeLaet grabs share of 36-hole lead
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Canadian Graham DeLaet always loved playing at Harbour Town Golf Links, but rarely got the results he thought he should — until this week.
The Weyburn, Sask., native followed up his career-best 6-under 65 in the first round with a 67 on Friday to share the lead with Luke Donald midway through the RBC Heritage.
Donald also shot 67 to reach 10-under 132, two in front of Ian Poulter and Webb Simpson. Poulter and Simpson each shot 68. DeLaet was 1 over on his first seven holes of the second round until a birdie on the difficult par-4 eighth hole and an eagle on No. 9, also a par 4 where he bounced his approach shot into the cup.
DeLaet had never finished better than 14th in six previous trips here and had only twice broken 70 in his previous 10 rounds before this week. DeLaet said his top-15 finish a year ago — his first and only one — continued to fan his flame for Harbour Town.
“And my love and enjoyment of playing this golf course turned into, ‘Maybe I could play well here,”’ he said.
DeLaet plodded through the first part of his round until dropping his approach on the 461-yard eighth hole within 15 feet and made the putt. On the next hole, DeLaet sent a wedge from 109 yards into the green, simply hoping to spin it back left toward the pin. Instead, it hopped in the cup to put DeLaet out front.
“We couldn’t see the bottom of the pin, but there was reaction from the crowd so we figured it was in,” DeLaet said.
DeLaet has won four times worldwide (three in his home nation and once in South Africa), but has never done better than second place on the PGA Tour (three times, most recently in the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open).
Donald has finished second or third in six of his past eight visits to the RBC Heritage — and put himself in position for another stellar finish this time.
Donald’s round took off with three straight birdies on the front nine. He held off a spate of wild drives after the turn — Donald drove way right on No. 10, played a provisional, found his first ball and made par — before chipping in for birdie on the closing, lighthouse hole at No. 18.
“I’ve been in this position before and I’ve got to go out there and be aggressive and make some birdies,” Donald said. “Certainly playing for pars won’t get it done out there.”
First-round leader Bud Cauley followed his 63 with a 72 and was in a group of five at 7-under.
Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin, both of Abbotsford, each shot 66 — Taylor was 7 under while Hadwin was 5 under.