List two strokes behind Barbasol leader Poston
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — J.T. Poston avoided bogeys Friday on his way to a 6-under-par 66 and the second-round lead in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship.
Poston had a 13-under 131 total through 36 holes at rain-soaked Keene Trace Golf Club, where the tournament was delayed twice Thursday because of stormy weather, with the first round not completed until Friday. Because of the wet conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways.
“It’s been really good,” Poston said. “Just ball striking’s been a lot better than I’d say it has been the last few months. Just nice to give myself a lot of looks. They’re bent greens; it’s soft. Hit the ball close to the hole and you can make a few putts, too.”
Poston had late birdies on the par-4 seventh and par-5 eighth in his round that began on No. 10. The 28-year-old former Western Carolina University player won the 2019 Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, for his lone PGA Tour title.
He’s comfortable on Keene Trace’s greens.
“They’re a lot like what I grew up on in Hickory, North Carolina,” Poston said. “They’re bent and they’re about the same speed as what I’m probably used to when I was a kid. Just kind of brings back some good memories of putting on that putting green growing up. It just feels normal to me.”
Ryan Armour and Joseph Bramlett were a stroke back after each shot a 67.
“It was softer today,” Armour said. “Definitely that rain yesterday afternoon, the two rain delays we had, I was not getting any bounce on the driver, it was kind of hit and plug, which I would love it if it would bounce a little more, the length I hit it, but I’m still able to get to three of the par 5s, which is good for me.”
Brian Stuard, tied for the first-round lead after a 64, shot a 69 to drop into a tie for fourth at 11 under with Canada’s Taylor Pendrith (68) — who finished his late afternoon round in the rain — Baylor School graduate Luke List (68) and Ireland’s Seamus Power (68).
“Today, obviously, wasn’t quite as good,” Stuard said. “I didn’t think I hit my irons as well as I did yesterday, but hung in there nicely and was able to kind of put together a good score, which is good.”
List did not drop a stroke Friday after making two bogeys Thursday, but he also had seven birdies and an eagle in that first round. The 36-year-old former Vanderbilt player is seeking his first PGA Tour win and coming off his second top-10 finish in his past six tournaments, a tie for fourth Sunday at the John Deere Classic.
Two other players with Chattanooga-area ties missed the cut, which was at 4 under. Former Baylor and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout Stephan Jaeger, currently the top player on the Korn Ferry Tour, shot 71-70 to miss the weekend by a stroke. Eric Axley, a native of Athens, Tennessee, shot 69-75 in his first start on the top-tier tour since the Puerto Rico Open in February.
Bo Hoag (68) and Canada’s David Hearn (67) were tied for eighth at 10 under, and 11 more players were within four strokes of the lead.
Jim Herman, whose three PGA Tour wins include the 2019 Barbasol Championship — which makes him the reigning champion after last year’s tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic — was tied for 31st at 7 under after a 70. Will Grimmer, tied with Stuard for the lead after wrapping up an opening 64 in the morning, shot a 74 in the second round to drop to 6 under.
John Daly, the 55-yearold two-time major champion now competing on the PGA Tour Champions, missed the cut after shooting 76-70.