Morikawa continues to tame Muirfield

Collin morikawa finished a stormy day with a threeshot lead when play was suspended by darkness friday at the Workday Charity Open in dublin, Ohio.

morikawa followed up his opening-round 7-under-par 65 with a 6-under 66 on friday. He carded nine birdies and three bogeys to move to 13-under at muirfield Village golf Club.

While morikawa finished his round before the weather delay, Kevin Streelman (64), with the best round of the day, and fellow American Justin Thomas (66) moved to 10-under after completing their rounds following a delay caused by inclement weather.

Sam Burns of the u.s. (66) and Japan’s Hideki matsuyama (68) were another shot back at 9-under.

morikawa had never played muirfield Village golf Club before this week, but one would hardly know it by looking at his scorecard.

morikawa, who began the day with a one-shot lead, was 4-under after 15 holes when play was halted for 77 minutes due to a dangerous weather situation and after the break he added two more birdies for a 6-under 66 to reach 13-under for the tournament.

That left the world No. 29 morikawa, whose two-day total marked the second lowest in course history.

“We talk about the course, I think it does fit my eye,” morikawa said of the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout. “I’ve been able to put myself, leave myself some really good numbers into approach shots. I’ve been keeping myself in the fairway for the most part, and that obviously helps.”

morikawa, who began his day on the back nine, reached the turn at 1-under after mixing three birdies with two bogeys. He caught fire at the par-four second when he made the first of four consecutive birdies.

The American then needed four shots to reach the green at the par-four sixth hole, where he went on to make a bogey before play was interrupted.

Canadian Adam Hadwin, who was one shot back of morikawa after the first round, was among the late starters.

He posted a 73 on friday and fell to 5-under, eight shots off the lead.

The top Canadian finisher was Nick Taylor, also of Abbotsford. Third after the first round, Taylor dropped into a tie for 10th at 6-under after carding a 71.

mackenzie Hughes of dundas, Ont., stood even with Hadwin at 5-under, but was on the 15th hole when play was halted for the night.

Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., carded a 69 on friday and sat at 4-under, while roger Sloan of merritt, B.C. was at 3-under after a 73. Both were above the projected cut line of 2-under.

This week’s event was added to the PGA Tour’s calendar in place of the John deere Classic, which was supposed to be held in Illinois, but was cancelled due to state-related challenges regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.