PGA Tour rookie Hossler holds steady at Houston
Beau Hossler was steady while better-known players faltered down the stretch Friday at the Houston Open, leaving him with a one-shot lead heading into the weekend.
The 23-year-old Hossler shot a 4-under 68 for a twoday total of 11-under 133, good enough for the second 36-hole lead of his rookie season. He shared the lead with Dustin Johnson at the halfway mark at Pebble Beach before falling out of contention.
Rickie Fowler was tied with Hossler before he hooked his drive into the water on the tough par-4 18th, leading to bogey. Sam Ryder, Abraham Ancer and Nicholas Lindheim joined him at 10 under.
Jordan Spieth’s putter heated up before his momentum stalled with a missed 3-footer on the 16th hole. He shot 67 and was two shots back. Phil Mickelson took the biggest step backward on 18. He was bogey-free for 17 holes and 8 under for the tournament before he found the water twice and made triple bogey.
LPGA Tour: Pernilla Lindberg and Sung Hyun Park quietly broke away Friday at the ANA Inspiration.
Park and Lindberg topped the leaderboard at a tournament-record 12-under 132, three strokes ahead of thirdplace Jessica Korda after two rounds in hot and calm conditions at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Park shot an 8-under 64 for the best round of the week. The U.S. Women’s Open winner played a ninehole stretch in 7 under. She holed out for eagle from 100 yards on the par-4 15th to cap the run.
Lindberg had a 67 in the final group of the morning session. The 31-year-old Swede had the first-round lead at 65, and was the only player without a bogey the first two days.
Korda had seven birdies in a 68 to get to 9 under.