Michael Putnam, who is seeking his first US PGA Tour win, on Friday shot a seven-under 64 for a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico.
“I’ve kept the ball in play really well,’” he said. “It’s a tight golf course and you’ve got to keep it between the trees. I hit a lot of greens and made a lot of two putts. I did make about a 10-footer for par on 16 — probably the hardest hole on the course.’’
The contenders started to distance themselves from the field after a logjam atop the leaderboard in the opening round at the El Camaleon Golf Course.
American Putnam finished 36 holes at 12-under-par 130. Putnam has won three times on the developmental Web.com Tour in his career, but has come up empty on the PGA Tour.
“We teed off at 6:15 this morning so it was pretty calm then, actually the wind was opposite of what it usually is because it was so early,” Putnam said. “Coming in I made a few birdies and got it to seven-under today and shot a 64.”
Shawn Stefani and Jason Bohn shot matching 65s and they are right behind Putnam tied in second place at 131.
Ken Duke posted the low round of the day with a 63 which vaulted him into fourth place at 132.
First-round co-leader Will MacKenzie fired a 68 and is tied for fifth with Alex Cejka (67), Canada’s David Hearn (65) and Nicholas Thompson (65).
MacKenzie, who finished the first round tied with five others, is the only first-round leader within three shots of Putnam.
Defending champion Harris English shot a 71 and is eight shots back at 138.
Additional reporting by AP
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
US national team star Folarin Balogun was among the scorers as AS Monaco on Friday won 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain, dealing a blow to the side from the French capital before they face Chelsea in a crunch UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie. Maghnes Akliouche gave Monaco a first-half lead at the Parc des Princes, and Aleksandr Golovin doubled their advantage early in the second half of the French Ligue 1 clash. Bradley Barcola pulled one back for the reigning European champions, but Balogun struck shortly after with a fifth goal in his last five games as Monaco claimed a precious
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
TOUGH RIVALS: Taiwanese goalkeeper Wang Yu-ting produced a superb performance as Japan attempted 30 shots and enjoyed almost 90 percent of possession Bayern Munich midfielder Momoko Tanikawa yesterday finally cracked a dogged Taiwan as powerhouse Japan won their AFC Women’s Asian Cup match in Perth, Australia, 2-0. Brimming with a talented squad featuring 16 England-based players, Japan dominated a one-sided match played in fierce heat, but they were left frustrated by an inability to hit the target other than Tanikawa’s strike in the 61st minute and a header from substitute Kiko Seike in the 92nd minute. The highest-ranked team in the competition at eight, Japan are desperate for a third title to add to their back-to-back triumphs in 2014 and 2018, but
RSS