Blixt, Smith lead by one

Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith posted a 10under 62 in Friday’s four-ball format to move into the lead at the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., which is in its first year of a new team format.

Blixt and Smith have a two-day total of 15-under 129 to lead by one over Patrick Reed and Patrick Cantlay. The K.J Choi-Charlie Wi and Troy Merritt-Robert Streb pairings are tied for third at 13-under.

The Madison duo of Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly were nine strokes off the pace.

The four-ball format has each member of a two-man team playing his own ball throughout a round, with only the best score on each hole recorded. The same format will be used Sunday. The first and third rounds have an alternate-shot format.

The change from the alternate-shot approach produced much lower scores Friday.

The Zurich Classic was a standard individual tournament until changing formats this year. This marks the PGA Tour’s first official team event since the 1981 Disney Classic.

LPGA Tour: Haru Nomura shot a 6-under 65 for a two-round total of 133 and a one-shot lead in the North Texas LPGA Shootout in Irving.

Ariya Jutanugarn is second following a 67 with Suzann Pettersen another shot behind.

Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya’s older sister, is fourth at 136 along with Inbee Park and Marina Alex.

M.J. Hur shot a 72 and trails by four strokes.