Schauffele sets course record

Xander Schauffele began his second round by missing a 4- foot birdie putt. That was hardly a sign of what was to follow Friday in the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in North Las Vegas, Nev.

Schauffele made putts as short as 3 feet and as long as 35 feet. He chipped in from 20 feet. He seemingly couldn’t miss during a two- hour stretch when he made seven birdies over eight holes, including six in a row, for a career- best 29 on the back nine.

His momentum slowed with the pace of play, and he settled an 8- under 64 for a threeshot lead over Tyrrell Hatton.

“Some of those holes, you’re not really trying to birdie them, you’re just trying to leave yourself an uphill 35- footer. And fortunately, I made a couple of them,” Schauffele said. “It was a nice stretch. Got a little bit stale there on the other side. Pace of play slowed down a lot, kind of hot, easy to let the mind wander.

“Upset I didn’t make more birdies, but pleased I didn’t make any bogeys.”

He was at 14- under 130 and now has the course record at Shadow Creek, which is playing host to the CJ Cup for this year only because the COVID- 19 pandemic made travel to South Korea impractical.

Two share lead

Englishman Matt Wallace carded a 5- under 67 Friday at Fairmont St Andrews to join Adrian Otaegui in the Scottish Championship lead. Wallace took advantage of favorable morning conditions by making six birdies and a single bogey to reach 12 under par. He went into the clubhouse with a twoshot lead, but overnight leader Otaegui fought hard in his afternoon round, improving his fortunes on his back nine. There, the Spaniard made four birdies and a bogey to follow up his opening round of 62 with a 70. Aaron Rai, the winner of the Scottish Open two weeks ago, made two eagles in his first six holes and was one shot back.

Champions rained out

The first round of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Richmond, Va., was postponed because of rain. The 54- hole tournament at the Country Club of Virginia was to be Phil Mickelson’s second start on the PGA Tour Champions. He won his debut on the over- 50 tour at Ozarks National in August. The tour planned to send players off from split tees Saturday morning and the second round was set to begin Saturday afternoon, with the goal of completing the tournament by Sunday evening.