Dufner opens big lead at Memorial
DUBLIN, Ohio — Jason Dufner wanted to put together more than just a few good rounds this week at the Memorial. The first two put him in the record book. Dufner holed out from 176 yards on the 18th hole for an eagle, and then added three more birdies on the front nine at Muirfield Village for another 7-under 65, giving him the 36-hole scoring record at the Memorial and a five-shot lead going into the weekend.
He was at 14-under 130, one shot better than the record previously held by Rickie Fowler (2010) and Scott Hoch (1987). Neither wound up winning the tournament.
Daniel Summerhays made bogey on his last hole and shot 69 to finish five shots behind Dufner. Fowler (66) was another shot behind.
Jordan Spieth was one shot out of the lead after the opening round. He already was eight shots back when he teed off, and all he managed was a 72. Spieth and Justin Thomas (71) were tied for fourth and eight shots behind.
“Duf is obviously in full control of the ball tee to green, and you’ve got to be making some putts, too,” Spieth said. “He had two fantastic days. He’s a major champion and a multiple PGA Tour winner, he’s going to be a tough guy to chase down. But again, playing with the lead on this golf course I imagine is going to be difficult.”
Dustin Johnson, the world’s No. 1 player, won’t have to chase him. Coming off a 78 — and his first round without a birdie in nearly four years — Johnson couldn’t get anything going and shot 74 to miss the cut by five shots.
Johnson’s fiancee, Paulina Gretzky, is expecting their second child next week before he returns for his title defence in the U.S. Open.
Zach Johnson dug deep to make the cut on the number with four birdies on his last five holes. So did Tony Finau, who birdied his last three. They all have a long way to go to get to Dufner.
Grahaem DeLaet is the top Canadian, in 13th. The Weyburn, Sask., native shot a 67 and is 4 under. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford is 1 over, while Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., is 2 over. Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., both missed the cut.
Fowler started the tournament with a triple bogey on his second hole and he was 3 over through four holes when he turned it around Thursday for a 70. He was back out Friday morning and shot 66 and walked off the course the closest player to Dufner, even if it wasn’t very close.
2-time defending champ Nordqvist leads ShopRite LPGA Classic
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Anna Nordqvist knows how to get around Stockton Seaview — and likes the view from atop the ShopRite LPGA Classic leaderboard.
The two-time defending champion shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 54-hole event.
She’s trying to join fellow Swede Annika Sorenstam as the only three-time winner.
Moriya Jutanugarn, Jeong Eun Lee, Jenny Shin and Jennifer Song were tied for second, and Paula Creamer, Pornanong Phatlum and In-Kyung Kim followed at 66.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is four strokes back after a 68. Maude-Aimee Leblanc from Sherbrooke, Que., shot an even-par 71, while Augusta James of Bath, Ont., and Calgary’s Jennifer Ha were 1 over.