Cantlay-Schauffele hold lead at Zurich Classic
AVONDALE, La – Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele shot a 4-under 68 in alternate-shot play Friday at windswept TPC of Louisiana to maintain a onestroke lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup partners opened with a tournament-record 59 on Thursday in best-ball play. They were at an event-record 17 under, with only one bogey through 36 holes.
The teams of David Lipsky-Aaron Rai and Doc Redman-Sam Ryder were second after 67s. All four of those players are seeking their first PGA Tour victory.
Cantlay and Schauffele, starting on the back nine, birdied three of the first four holes to offset a bogey on the par-4 12th and added two birdies on their back nine.
“It was definitely more difficult playing alternate shot,” Cantlay said. “I think 4 under is really good considering the circumstances with the wind and our round yesterday. I think it sets a really good tone going into the weekend.”
Cameron Tringale-Wyndham Clark and Brandon Grace-Garrick Higgo were 15 under. Higgo and Grace shot 65, and Tringale and Clark had a 67.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and Ryan Palmer settled for an even-par 72 to make the cut on the number at 8 under.
Ryder and Redman, who belong to the same country club and share the same coach, followed their opening 61 with a bogey-free round. They birdied their opening two holes and added another on the fourth to make the turn. On the inward nine, they birdied the par-5 11th and the short par-4 13th before parring out.
“It’s just been as stress free as it can in this kind of format,” Ryder said. “You have a tendency, I think, sometimes to try harder because you’re not just kind of feeling like you’re letting yourself down, you’re trying almost a little harder for your teammate. He’s swinging it great, putting me in good positions off the tee, playing from the fairway, chipping it nice a couple times when we had to, and everything has just been solid.”
Rai and Lipsky had six birdies, including four on their way to a 3-under par 33 on the front nine. They also opened with a 61.
“We played really well together,” Rai said. “(Lipsky) hit some very good shots early on. I made a couple of putts and we kind of got the round going quite early.
The father-son team of Jay Haas and Bill Haas also made the cut on the number, following a 65 with a 71. At 68 years, four months, 20 days, Jay Haas, making his 799th official start, is the oldest player to make a PGA Tour cut.
Robert Garrigus and Tommy Gainey, each playing on sponsor exemptions, followed a first-round 61 with a 78 to miss the cut. Earlier in the week, Garrigus revealed he is applying for a release with the PGA Tour to play the inaugural LIV Golf competition.
The format shifts back to the best-ball Saturday. The final round will be alternate shot.
European Tour
LA PINEDA, Spain – Scott Jamieson took a two-shot lead of the ISPS Handa Championship in Spain after the second round on Friday.
Jamieson eagled the 18th hole to finish with a 7-under 63 at the Lakes Course in eastern Spain.
Overnight leader Tapio Pulkkanen is his nearest chaser entering the weekend. The Finn followed up his opening-round 6-under 64 with a 67.
Jamieson is seeking his second career European tour win after his sole title at the Nelson Mandela Championship in 2012. This season he has come close, leading the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for three days in January before a poor final round cost him the title.
“This year I seem to be coming out of the gates very well, I’ve had some good starts so far and I think it’s easier to play the golf course the first two rounds because you’re not necessarily playing other people at that point,” Jamieson said.
Spaniard Adrian Otaegui is three strokes back, followed by five more golfers at four shots off the pace.
PGA Tour Champions
IRVING, Texas – Jerry Kelly had a hole-in-one on the par-3 sixth hole and shot a 5-under 66 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ ClubCorp Classic.
“A little more than 180 (yards), but the wind was down a little out of the right and I was going to hit an 8 and ride it, but it would have just been too far moving it right to left,” Kelly said. “So. I hit a little hold-up 7 in there and it just tracked the whole way and it went in.”
Kelly closed with a birdie on the par-4 ninth at windy Las Colinas Country Club.
“The wind started picking up, so I’m pretty happy with where I sit,” Kelly said.
The 55-year-old Kelly has eight victories on the 50-and-over tour after winning three times on the PGA Tour.
Woody Austin, Scott Parel and Gene Sauers were a stroke back. Jeff Maggert, Lee Janzen, Steven Alker and Rob Labritz followed at 68.
“Kept it in play most of the day, took care of the par 5s, which I think that’s your best chance for birdies because the wind’s so difficult out here,” Parel said.
The tournament features 50 celebrities playing alongside the pros. Ten members of ClubCorp properties also earned spots in the field through regional and national competitions.
Kelly and fellow pro Steve Flesch (69) were grouped with former Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher and Minnesota receiver Adam Theilen.
Former Dallas quarterback Tony Romo and former NBA player Ray Allen were with David Toms (72) and Alex Cejka (71).
John Daly had a double bogey on the par-4 16th in a 72. He played in a group with Larry the Cable Guy.