RYAN Gerard and Viktor Hovland shared the halfway lead at the season-ending Tour Championship Friday (Saturday Manila), but in hot pursuit is a star-studded field that includes world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
Gerard shot a 5-under-par 65 in the second round and Hovland a 66 and the two leaders are at 130, 10 under, going into the last two rounds of the PGA Tour’s richest event that offers $10 million to the winner from a purse of $40 million.
A stroke back are Colin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup whoeach fired a 67 while two shots back of the leaders is Scheffler who had a 67.
Several players took advantage of the soft course and the relatively windless day, chief among them was Cameron Young who started last and played solo following the withdrawal of JJ Spaun due to injury.
He shot an 8-under 62 and jumped into a tie with Scheffler for fourth spot, two strokes behind.
A win would put Young in PGA Tour Player of the Year conversation following victories at The Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship at Doral.
Min Woo Lee, who shot an 8-under-par 62 on opening round, had a 73, second worst score of the day, and dropped him to a tie for 15th place, five strokes behind.
Guce, Arejola fire 68 in Epson Tour
Clariss Guce and Tomita Arejola each shot a 4-under-par 68 in the first round to put themselves in contention of the Dream First Bank Charity Classic as they continued their search for their first title this season on the Epson Tour.
The two campaigners who carry the Philippine flag in this LPGA development tour, were tied for 10th spot, two strokes behind the leaders in a low-scoring day where half the field broke par and 16 players shot 68 or better.
Also in the field are Pauline del Rosario who carded an even par 72, Dottie Ardina, who shot a 1-over-par 73 and Bianca Pagdanganan, whose 74 tied him at 100th place and in jeopardy of not making the cut for the first time in the Epson Tour.
The projected cut is 1 under and both del Rosario and Ardina may have to find ways to advance to the final round of the three-round event.
Del Rosario is tied for 64th place and Ardina shared 68th spot.
On top sharing the lead were Jennifer Elliot and Mirabel Ting, who scored identical 6-under-par 66, defying the strong winds that blew during their afternoon round.
Seven players are tied for third at 67.
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