Scott Piercy played 12 holes of the second round in 4-under-par and held a two-stroke lead over Johnson Wagner in the season-opening Safeway Open on a rainy day at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif.
Piercy, who was two shots ahead after a course-record 62 in round one, highlighted his day with a 42-yard eagle chip-in on the ninth hole and has made only two bogeys while playing 48 holes in 14-under.
“In my mind, I wanted to shoot 3-under on the front, and luckily, I was able to do that,” said Piercy, who played at San Diego State. “I had a good angle (on the ninth hole), kind of shooting straight up the green. When you make it from 40 yards, it’s luck. I hit a good shot. I landed it pretty much where I wanted to and it reacted good. Whenever it goes in, that’s a bonus.”
A steady rain fell for much of the day and halted the second round for 2 hours and 36 minutes. Round two will finish on Saturday morning, with the third round to follow.
Wagner, who opened with a 65, played 14 holes in round two in a bogey-free 5-under, and Paul Casey of England was 3-under through 12 holes and another shot back in third at 11-under.
Bill Haas shot 70 and was six strokes behind in a tie for fourth at 8-under with Troy Merritt, who was 2-under for 10 holes in round two, and Seung-Yul Noh of South Korea, who was 3-under through eight.
J.J. Spaun collected seven birdies in a 67 and was seven strokes down in a tie for seventh with Trey Mullinax, who was 4-under through eight holes, and Patton Kizzire, who was 1-under through nine.
Phil Mickelson posted a second straight 69 and was another shot behind in a tie for 10th with Tag Ridings, who shot 70, and Mackenzie Hughes of Canada, who also had a second consecutive 69.
Also in the tie for 10th were Brendan Steele of Idyllwild and UC Riverside, who was 1-under through eight holes; John Huh, who was 4-under through 12; Martin Laird of Scotland, who was 1-under through eight; Ryan Blaum, who was 3-under through eight; Vaughn Taylor, who was 4-under through 12, and Kyle Stanley, who was 1-over through 10.
Defending champion Emiliano Grillo of Argentina totaled 70 and was nine shots back in a tie for 19th
