Lucas Glover fired a five-under-par 67 on Friday to hold a one-shot lead over Boo Weekley after two rounds of the USPGA Tour’s US$6.6 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Glover, a former US Open champion who is seeking his first win since the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship, had a 36-hole total of 12-under 132.
Weekley carded a four-under-par 68 at TPC Louisiana for 133. D.A. Points also notched a 68 and was alone in third on 134. Morgan Hoffmann’s 69 gave him a nine-under total of 135, one shot ahead of last year’s runner-up, South African Ernie Els, who posted a 69 for 136.
Photo: AFP
Glover had eight birdies in his round, including a four-footer at the first.
He followed that up with a birdie at the second, where he chipped his third shot to seven feet and made the putt.
Glover, who won the US Open title in 2009, bogeyed the third, but rebounded with birdies at three of his next four holes.
He made a bogey from a bunker at the 10th, but responded with birdies at 11 and 13 before a bogey at 17 — which he promptly followed with an 18-foot birdie putt at the last.
“Ball-striking wise, I’ve been where I’m used to being. But I don’t know that I’ve ever putted like I have the past two days, so I don’t know if I can say I’m back because I’ve never been there,” said Glover, who has struggled this season after knee surgery cut his campaign last year short in September.
“It changes every weekend,” Glover said. “I’ve made a little adjustment with my setup, a little more stable on my left side and a little more weight left. Did I see this coming? Yeah, it was just one of those things where I had to get the putter straightened out.”
Weekley opened his round with an eagle at the par-four 10th. He also had four birdies and two bogeys, capping his round with a seven-foot birdie at the par-three ninth.
The 71 players who made the cut at three-under included Chinese teen sensation Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old who made the cut and earned Low Amateur honors at the Masters a fortnight ago.
Guan carded a three-under 69 to make the cut on the number at three-under 141.
“Making the cut is one of my goals,” the teenager said. “I’m having fun these couple of days, and I hope to play my best and go a little further into the weekend.”
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