Scott Langley carded a 5-under-par 65 and held a one-stroke lead over Michael Putnam, Harris English and K.J. Choi of South Korea after two rounds of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.
Langley, a 25-year-old left-hander who is winless in two seasons on the PGA Tour after winning the 2010 NCAA individual championship for the University of Illinois, followed his opening 64 by recording eight birdies in round two, overcoming a double bogey and a bogey.
“I’ve been in contention; I played in the final group on Sunday at Memorial,” said Langley, who closed with a 7-over 79 on that Sunday at Muirfield Village and skidded to a tie for 28th.
“This weekend, I’m not going to think about possibilities. I’m not going to think about what it means to win. I’m not going to think about any of that stuff. I’m just going to keep my head down and play my game.”
English, who claimed his second PGA Tour title at the OHL Mayakoba Classic in November, birdied five of his last eight holes to shoot 64.
Putnam, who played at Pepperdine and has won three times on the Web.com Tour, made a bogey on his first hole of the day and then reeled off eight birdies in a round of 63.
Choi, who has won eight times on the PGA Tour including the 2011 Players Championship, had six birdies while recording a second 65.
First-round leader Brendan Steele of Idyllwild and UC Riverside followed his opening 62 with a 69 and was two shots back in a tie for fifth with Jamie Lovemark of USC and Rancho Santa Fe, who had a bogey-free 63, Ryan Moore, who totaled 68, and Eric Axley, who came in at 67.
Dustin Johnson was three strokes behind in solo ninth after a second 66, while Matt Kuchar was another shot behind after a 67 and was tied for 10th with Aaron Baddeley of Australia, who had a 66, and Bud Cauley, who wound up at 70.
