German veteran Alex Cejka, still seeking his first USPGA Tour victory, birdied three of his last five holes to grab a one-shot lead after the second round of the Puerto Rico Open on Friday.
The 44-year-old fired a five-under 67 in blustery conditions on the Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande.
That left Cejka at seven-under 137, a stroke in front of little-known American Brandon Hagy (67), who is playing on a sponsor’s exemption, and two ahead of Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (70).
Photo: AFP
Cejka, a four-times winner on the EPGA Tour, who has twice been a runner-up on the USPGA Tour, vaulted to the top of the leaderboard with late birdies at the fifth, seventh and ninth, his final hole of the day.
“My short game is great. I made a lot of putts when I needed to and I’m in a great position right now,” Cejka said.
American Chesson Hadley, who won last year’s Puerto Rico Open as a USPGA Tour rookie by two shots, was in a group of seven players knotted at three-under after carding a 70.
Also at three-under were Australia’s Rod Pampling (71) and Zimbabwean Brendon de Jonge (70).
The cut fell at two-over 146 with Trevor Immelman of South Africa and Americans Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton and Mark Calcavecchia missing out.
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