Suh holds on for one-stroke edge
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Las Vegas resident Justin Suh withstood Chris Kirk’s breakthrough round Friday to hold a one-shot lead at the Honda Classic’s midpoint.
Suh had four straight birdies around the turn in a 6-under-par 64 for a 10-under 130 total. Kirk was alone in second after shooting 62 — the tournament’s third-best round since it moved to PGA National 17 years ago.
The lone sub-62s came from Brian Harman (2012) and Matt Jones (2021).
Kirk had an eagle and six birdies, hitting 16 greens in regulation and taking advantage of no wind in the morning — rare for PGA National.
“Usually we’re playing for 15-, 20-plus yards of hurt going into the wind shots and 15, 20 yards of help on downwind shots,” the 37-year-old Kirk said. “It’s really difficult to get those just right when it’s really windy. But today there was hardly a breath most of the round, and so it became a little bit more target practice.”
Suh had four consecutive birdies starting on No. 8, rolling in putts from 5, 15, 25 and 30 feet.
“We’ve been trending in the right direction,” the 25-yearold Suh said. “Every week
I’ve been improving and just certain spots, and I think it’s gratifying just to see the progressive work pay off.”
Ryan Gerard (63) and Ben Taylor (65) were tied for third at 8 under.
Gerard, 23, was a Monday qualifier. This is his second PGA Tour event as a pro and his first made cut. His highlight was a 22-foot eagle putt on No. 5.
“Something that I’ve really wanted to be in, in contention in a PGA Tour event,” Gerard said. “I had to go through a lot to just get to the tournament, and then get to this spot.”
Only five times in tour history has a Monday qualifier won that week’s tournament. Corey Conners was the most recent player to accomplish the feat, in 2019.
Las Vegas resident Joseph Bramlett and Billy Horschel both shot 65 on Thursday to share the lead; both shot 73 on Friday.