Simpson, Armour on top at Wyndham event
>> GREENSBORO: Former US Open winner Webb Simpson fired a sixunder-par 64 on Friday to grab a share of the lead with fellow American Ryan Armour at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship.
Simpson, who won the US Open in 2012 in San Francisco, made four birdies on a bogey-free back nine, while Armour birdied four straight holes en route to a nine-under 61.
The pair were tied at 13-under 127 for a one-shot lead over Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who led the morning groups with a four-under 66 at Sedgefield Country Club.
“We’re obviously close to where I grew up,” said Simpson, who comes from North Carolina. “I grew up playing courses similar to this that aren’t too long, hit different clubs off the tee, some doglegs.
“There’s a comfort here that I feel like I don’t have at a lot of places. I’ve always loved playing close to home. That’s part of it as well.”
Simpson, who won his first PGA Tour event in North Carolina in 2011, had to overcome back-to-back bogeys on the front nine, while Armour drained a total of nine birdies.
Vaughn Taylor (66) and Ollie Schniederjans (63), who birdied three of his last four holes, were tied for fourth at 11 under.
Hunter Mahan (65) Kevin Na (63) and former winner Davis Love (66) are next at 10 under. Mahan had his second consecutive 65.