Jonathan Byrd of the US birdied two of his last three holes in ideal scoring conditions to grab a one-shot lead after the second round of the Las Vegas Open on Friday.
With hardly a breath of wind on a rain-softened course at the TPC Summerlin, Byrd fired a sparkling eight-under 63 for a 13-under total of 129.
In pursuit of his fourth USPGA Tour title, the 32-year-old covered his back nine in four-under 31 to end the day a stroke in front of Japan’s Ryuji Imada, who posted a sizzling 62.
Britain’s Martin Laird, who clinched his maiden victory on the US circuit in Las Vegas last year, also returned a 62 to lie two shots off the pace.
Level with Laird were Alex Prugh (64), George McNeill (66) and Nicholas Thompson (66) of the US, plus Australian John Senden (67).
Conditions were ripe for plenty of birdies and eagles in the Nevada desert and Imada, fresh from a tie for sixth at last week’s Frys.com Open, was among the first to take advantage.
Playing in the dead calm of the morning, the 34-year-old raced to the turn in a blistering five-under 30 and holed out from a bunker to eagle the par-four 15th on the way to the joint-best score of the week.
Among the bigger names competing in the penultimate event on this year’s USPGA Tour, Davis Love III carded a 68 for an eight-under total, two better than fellow American John Daly, who returned a 70.
The cut fell at four-under 138, with former major winners Trevor Immelman of South Africa and Ben Curtis and Lee Janzen of the US among those failing to advance.
CASTELLO MASTERS
REUTERS, CASTELLON, SPAIN
Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, seeking a maiden victory in his first year as a professional, moved to within a stroke of the lead after the Castello Masters second round on Friday.
While the 17-year-old was flying high, former world No. 2 Sergio Garcia missed the cut in the European Tour event he runs on his home Mediterraneo course.
Manassero’s five-under 66 gave him an eight-under total of 134, one behind leader Peter Hedblom (64) of Sweden, but a 73 by Garcia meant the Spaniard missed the cut by a stroke.
Garcia lost all hope of making the weekend when he hooked his ball into a pond and double-bogeyed the 17th.
Schoolboy Manassero is two years younger than Garcia was when he exploded on the golf scene by winning twice and finishing third on the 1999 European money list. Only a bogey on the 17th prevented the young Italian sharing the lead as he reeled off seven birdies.
Despite Garcia’s exit, there was some good news for Spanish fans.
Jose Maria Olazabal, beset by rheumatic problems for two years and playing only his second event of the year, battled bravely to a 68 to make the cut on one-under.
Fellow countryman Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (66) also shared second place with Manassero and 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie (70).
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