Tringale takes 2-shot lead as Spieth lingers

Eric Gay

Jordan Spieth has struggled for three years without a win on the PGA Tour but is in contention at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

Cameron Tringale made a move for his first PGA Tour victory with a 3-under-par 69 Friday and a two-shot lead after two rounds of the Valero Texas Open.

Tringale, a 12-year veteran, was at 9-under 135 after a round that included fivestraight birdies and leads Jordan Spieth and Englishman Matt Wallace.

Spieth continued his comeback from a three-year winless slump and was at 7-under after a 70. Wallace shot 68. Kyle Stanley also shot 68 and was at 5-under with Brandt Snedeker (67), Kevin Stadler (70) and Erik van Rooyen (68).

First-round leader Camilo Villegas shot a 76 to fall five shots back in a group that includes Matt Kuchar, who shot his second 70.

Tringale led by as many as five strokes after he closed out his front nine with consecutive birdies on his fourth through eighth holes and then birdied his 11th. Three of those featured approach shots that left him with putts of less than 5 feet.

“I just hit a lot of really good iron shots to those holes,” Tringale said. “I think my furthest putt was 4 feet, so

Cameron Tringale Matt Wallace Jordan Spieth Kevin Stadler Kylestanley

Erik van Rooyen Brandt Snedeker 66-69 69-68 67-70 69-70 71-68 71-68 72-67

— 135 — 137 — 137 — 139 — 139 — 139 — 139 just good approaches to the green. Still gotta roll those in, but was able to do it. I took advantage most of the time.”

His birdie run marked a quick turnaround from his start when he opened with bogeys on his first two holes.

“I was really just trying to get back into the round and get into the red numbers again,” he said. “I kept it in play and just had a lot of looks and a few went in.”

A win would give Tringale, 33, his first official Tour win. He won a team event at the Franklin Templeton Shootout with partner Jason Day in 2015. This year he was tied for seventh at Pebble Beach.

Spieth continues to look like he’s getting past a slump that has seen him drop from No. 1 in the world in 2016 to No. 92 in January. Now 53rd, he’s in good position for his fifth top-10 finish in the past two months after a four-birdie round. He hasn’t won since 2017.