Kitayama rises as Rahm falters
Kurt Kitayama is chasing his first PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a world-class group of contenders right behind him.
Kitayama should be used to that.
Last year, he fell one shot short of Jon Rahm in Mexico, Xander Schauffele in Scotland and Rory McIlroy in South Carolina.
Kitayama handled the wind that made Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla., only tougher, posting a four-under 68 on Friday for a two-shot lead over Jordan Spieth, a threetime major champion and former No. 1 player in the world.
“Right now I feel like I’m just trying to get that win,” Kitayama said. “It’s tough, especially with the guys I’ve been against. So I’ve just got to keep putting myself in that position to give myself a chance.”
Rahm finally looked human. His final five holes included a double bogey, three bogeys and a birdie. He shot 76, his highest score since a 76 in the third round of the PGA Championship last May, and fell six shots behind.
Kitayama was at nineunder 135, and the immediate challenge is Spieth, who tied for fourth in his lone appearance at Bay Hill.
Young retains Puerto Rico lead
Carson Young had to lean more on his short game and posted a five-under 67 and built a four-shot lead going into the weekend at the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.
Young, a 28-year-old rookie on the PGA Tour, didn’t have quite the theatrics as his opening round of three eagles that carried him to a 63. He still put himself in great position as he goes after his first tour win.
“I didn’t quite have it like I did yesterday, but it was still good,” Young said. “My tee shots weren’t quite the way I wanted them today, I got into trouble a good bit, but my short game really saved me today.”
Young was at 14-under 130. Another tour rookie, Nico Echavarria of Colombia, had a 67 and was four shots back along with Paul Haley II (66).
Kang has one-shot lead in Singapore
Danielle Kang avoided distractions during a rainsoaked day and shot a nineunder 63 for a one-shot lead after the second round of the Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
The former Pepperdine star opened with a 71 for a 10under 134 total after two rounds.
Allisen Corpuz (65), Hyo Joo Kim (67) and first-round leader Elizabeth Szokol (71) were a shot back at the Sentosa Golf Club.
The round was suspended by heavy rainfall.
Quigley tops the Champions f ield
Brett Quigley, 53, shot a seven-under 65, one day after the Tucson National Catalina Course was blanketed under a layer of snow. Quigley opened with a one-shot lead over John Huston, Kirk Triplett and Brian Cooper.