Conners grinds to Bay Hill lead
Corey Conners spent more time grinding out pars than chasing birdies, and that proved to be the right recipe Friday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla., began to bake under a warm sun.
Conners surged into the lead with a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-five 16th hole — his second eagle on that hole in two days — for a threeunder 69, a nine-under total and a one-shot advantage over former Bay Hill winner Martin Laird (67).
Rory McIlroy closed with five pars for a 71 and was two shots behind, along with Viktor Hovland and Lanto Griffin, who each had a 68.
Bryson DeChambeau (71) is at six under and Jordan Spieth (69) one back.
LPGA
Jennifer Kupcho and Austin Ernst each shot their second straight five-under 67 to share the secondround lead in the Drive On Championship at Ocala, Fla.
A day after playing most of the back nine with a migraine that blurs her vision, Kupcho had six birdies and a bogey at Golden Ocala.
Carlota Ciganda of Spain had the best round of the day, a bogey-free 65 to get to eight under, two behind. She played alongside Laura Davies, the 57-year-old Hall of Famer who rebounded from an opening 75 with a 69 to advance to the weekend at even par.