Harman leads by three shots after two rounds

HONOLULU» Different islands, vastly different golf courses, same good play from Brian Harman.

One week after Harman shared the 36hole lead at Kapalua, he ran off three straight birdies and closed with a 15-foot eagle putt for a 7-under 63 and a threeshot lead going into the weekend at the Sony Open.

Harman was at 13-under 127, and no one could catch him Friday afternoon.

Chris Kirk, who shared the 18-hole lead with Harman, opened by pitching in from 25 yards for eagle on No. 10. He ended his day by driving into the canal on the easy par-5 ninth and making bogey for a 67.

Kirk was three behind along with Zach Johnson (67), John Peterson (64), Tom Hoge (65) and PGA Tour rookie Talor Gooch.

Except for the tropical warmth, the two golf courses on the Hawaii swing are nothing alike. The Plantation Course at Kapalua was built on the side of the mountain on the west tip of Maui and features fairways that can stretch nearly 90 yards wide and big slopes in the greens.

Waialae is at sea level — waist-high hedges along the 16th and 17th holes and behind the 11th green are all that separate grass from the beach — with smaller, flatter greens and fairways framed by trees.

“The biggest elevation change here is from the walk down from the hotel,” Harman said. “I’ve always kind of felt like as long as there’s fairways and greens and holes to putt it, then I’m going to be fine.”

The Georgia native is playing just as well on Oahu as he did on Maui.

He surged ahead in the morning with two quick birdies on the back nine, made the turn in 32 and ran off three straight birdies early on the front nine. After making his only bogey from a bunker on the par-3 seventh, Harman hit 7-iron from 172 yards to 15 feet on No. 9 for a closing eagle. It’s all just golf to him.

Johnson had a nine-hole stretch of eight pars and a bogey until a strong finish. He birdied the par-3 seventh and closed with an eagle to salvage a 67.

Two-way tie atop South African Open.

Chris Paisley and Adrien Saddier opened up a big lead after two rounds of the South African Open as they moved to 13-under and four shots clear of their nearest challengers.

England’s Paisley posted a 7-under 65 to move up from second overnight.

Footnote.

Rory McIlroy has a heart ailment that will have to be monitored regularly but is not expected to affect his play.