Uihlein shoots 66 to take 2-shot lead in Las Vegas
LASVEGAS— Peter-Uihlein birdied five of the last seven holes for a 5-under 66 and a two-stroke lead Friday in the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open.
Uihlein got to 13-under 129 at TPC Summerlin, a day after opening with a 63. Robert Streb and Whee Kim were tied for second, and Bryson DeChambeau, Abraham Ancer and Harold Varner were another stroke back.
“I think we still have 36 holes,” Uihlein said. “There is a lot of golf left. I’ve heard it could be windy tomorrow, so that could be challenging.”
Jordan Spieth had two late birdies in a 68 to get to 8 under in his season debut. Playing for the first time since the Ryder Cup, he making his first career start in a domestic fall event
Uihlein was even par for the round through 11 holes, making a bogey on the par-4 second and a birdie on the par-4 fourth. On the back nine, he birdied Nos. 12-14, 16 and 18.
“I just like it,” Uihlein said about the course. “There are a lot of holes that set up well for me. A lot of just good sightlines with some good bunker placements. My distance control with my irons has been very good this week, so I’ve been able to have a kind of more stress-free two days.”
The son of Acushnet/ Titleist chairman and CEO Wally Uihlein, the 29-yearold former Oklahoma State player is winless on the PGA Tour. He won the 2010 U.S. Amateur, took the European Tour’s 2013 Madeira Islands Open and the Web. com Tour’s 2017 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. Kim shot 65, DeChambeau, Streb and Ancer 66, and Varner 67.
Cameron Champ had a 65 in the group with Spieth to also get to 8 under. Champ won the Sanderson Farms last week in Mississippi for his first tour title.
Rickie Fowler was 7 under after a 67.
“There were a few spots where I was able to take advantage and be aggressive, but you do have to, I guess, play smart at times,” Fowler said. “There are a few holes if you get out of position they can jump up and get you pretty quickly.”