62 moves Na into 2nd-place tie at Colonial
FORT WORTH — Kevin Na enjoys Colonial Country Club and has the cluster of low rounds to prove it.
Na eagled the par-5 first hole Friday on the way to an 8-under-par 62, his third score at least that good in the past six rounds on the cozy course made famous by Ben Hogan. Na, tied for second at 8 under with firstround leader Tony Finau, trailed Jonas Blixt by one halfway through Colonial.
After opening with a 62 and closing with a course record-tying 61 to finish fourth last year, Na followed the eagle with six birdies in a bogey-free round after being happy to shoot par 70 on a windy afternoon in the first round.
“One of those golf courses I look forward to coming to,” said Na, a two-time PGA Tour winner who puts Colonial in his top three along with Riviera and Hilton Head. “Fits my game. You’ve got to take advantage of those weeks because there is not too many golf courses like this on tour anymore.”
Blixt, a three-time winner playing with Na, holed out from 132 yards for eagle on No. 17 and shot 64 to reach 9 under. Finau, playing the back nine first, started with nine consecutive pars before three birdies and a bogey on his final nine for a 68.
Local favorite Jordan Spieth, a stroke off the lead to start the day, shot 70 and was four behind Blixt. Defending champion Justin Rose, the highestranked player in the field at No. 3, shot 67 and was 1 over, one stroke above the cut line.
Rory Sabbatini, the 2007 Colonial champion, shot 66 and was alone in fourth at 6 under. Jim Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who has not won in four years, shot 66 and was among a group at 5 under.