Dufner pulling away at Memorial
DUBLIN, Ohio — Jason Dufner wanted to put together more than just a few good rounds this week at the Memorial Tournament.
The first two put him in the record book.
Dufner holed out from 176 yards on the 18th hole for an eagle Friday, then added three more birdies on the front nine at Muirfield Village for another 7-under 65, giving him the tournament’s 36-hole scoring record 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, shot 69 and was in second, with Fowler (66) another shot behind.
Jordan Spieth was one shot out of the lead after the opening round. He already was eight shots back by the time 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 — he couldn’t get anything going and shot 74 to miss the cut by five shots.
“I hate missing cuts,” Johnson said.
Another Johnson, Zach, dug deep to make the cut on the number with four birdies in 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.
Stephan Jaeger in ninth
In Raleigh, N.C., Chattanooga’s Stephan Jaeger lost some ground on the leaderboard but was still a contender after the second round of the Rex Hospital Open at TPC Wakefield Plantation.
The Baylor School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga graduate, who was tied for second after Thursday’s first round, shot a par 71 Friday and was part of a seven-way tie for ninth at 6-under 136. Ethan Tracy held a one-stroke lead after a 67 put him at 9-under 133.
Athens, Tenn., native Eric Axley (68) made a big jump and was tied for 24th at 138, while two other golfers with area ties made the cut on the number. Blake Adams (68), who played at Dalton (Ga.) High School, and former Baylor School and University of Georgia golfer Keith Mitchell (71) were among those tied for 65th at 141.
Nordqvist in first again
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Anna Nordqvist knows how to get around Stockton Seaview, and she likes the view from atop the ShopRite LPGA Classic leaderboard.
Nordqvist, the winner of this tournament the past two years, shot a 7-under 64 for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 54-hole event near Atlantic City. She’s trying to join fellow Swede Annika Sorenstam as the event’s only threetime winner.
Moriya Jutanugarn, Jeong Eun Lee, Jenny Shin and Jennifer Song were tied for second, and Paula Creamer, In-Kyung Kim and Pornanong Phatlum followed at 66.
Lydia Ko is skipping the event and will lose her No. 1 ranking to No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn, who is also taking the week off, or No. 3 So Yeon Ryu, who is competing. Ryu had four straight bogeys in a 74 that left her tied for 98th and in danger of missing the cut. She needs to finish solo third or better to take the top spot in the ranking.
Jamie Donaldson leads
MALMO, Sweden — Jamie Donaldson shot his second straight 4-under 69 to take a two-stroke lead in the Nordea Masters. The threetime European Tour winner had five birdies and a bogey at Barseback Golf and Country Club.
“There were times when the ball wasn’t where I wanted it to be, but I made some great escapes,” Donaldson said.
Renato Paratore (72) was second, and Benjamin Hebert (71), Max Orrin (73) and Graeme Storm (68) were a stroke further back. Orrin and Paratore were co-leaders after the opening round
Sweden’s Alex Noren (70) and Henrik Stenson (72) were part of a crowd tied for 25th at 1 under.