Two fight past rain, wind to share lead
Once the rain finally stopped, the wind took over at the Wells Fargo Championship in Wilmington, N.C.
Billy Hurley III and Seamus Power of Ireland did their best to figure out the strong gusts and wound up atop the leader board after a long day in the PGA event.
The second round started three hours late because of a violent storm that dumped nearly 2 inches of rain on Eagle Point, and 65 players have to return Saturday morning to complete the round.
Hurley hit a 4-iron from 174 yards that came up 15 yards short, and he managed to get up-and-down to cap off a strong finish for a 3-under 69. Power shot a 71 and joined Hurley at 5-under 139.
The wind was so strong that it blew Phil Mickelson’s hat off his head as he was preparing to hit a tee shot. Mickelson went along nicely until missing the green on No. 9, making double bogey on his final hole for a 72. He was at 1-under 143.
“It was more difficult with the wind,” Hurley said. “Thankfully, with the rain it was softer. If we didn’t have this rain, and then we had this wind, it would have been pretty brutal.”
Other tournaments
Lorena Ochoa Match Play: Ariya Jutanugarn won a sister showdown in the LPGA’s Lorena Ochoa Match Play, and Lydia Ko, Michelle Wie and Cristie Kerr also advanced at Club de Golf Mexico in Mexico City. The thirdranked Jutanugarn edged older sister Moriya 2 up in the second round. “Today we had fun because we are sisters. We always have fun,” Ariya said.
Insperity Invitational: Tom Lehman birdied six of his first nine holes, including four in a row before the turn, en route to an 8-under 64 at the Woodlands in Texas and the first-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ event. Kirk Triplett and Jay Haas were tied for second at 67.