Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge fired six-under 66 for the second consecutive day to share a three-shot lead after two rounds of the PGA Viking Classic on Friday.
Bill Haas of the US, who claimed his first win earlier this year, also shot a 66. De Jonge and Haas finished two rounds at 12-under 132.
De Jonge, who made his 30th start this year at the Viking Classic, has never held a second-round lead before, although he has finished in the top 10 six times this year. The Zimbabwean, 36th on the USPGA money list, is still looking for his first victory.
PHOTO: AFP
He managed to get through the entire second round without a bogey at the Annandale Golf Club.
“You never want to say it’s an easy round,” he said. “I felt like it could have been a couple better, but I’ll take 66 any time.”
Michael Allen also posted a 66 to move into a share of third place. He is tied with Nathan Green at nine-under.
Bill Lunde is alone in fifth at eight-under 136 after carding a two-under 70 in the second round.
The cut line fell at even-par 144, with 79 players moving on to the weekend. Former winner Will Mackenzie (2008) made the cut on the number after stumbling to a 73 on Friday.
Haas, who has fired back-to-back bogey-free rounds, is playing remarkably well after taking two weeks off.
“There’s easy holes out there and there’s hard holes. You’ve got to make sure you par those hard holes,” Haas said.
Green offset a bogey with five birdies for a 68 on the day, putting him at nine-under.
The best rounds of the day were posted by Chris Stroud and Roland Thatcher, who shot 65s.
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