Brendan Steele didn’t have the same magic as the day before, but still managed a 2-under-par 70 to take a two-stroke lead over four players midway through the Frys.com Open on the North Course at Silverado Country Club in Napa.
Steele, who opened with a 63, birdied three of the first five holes on the back nine in round two, but also had two bogeys coming home before saving par with a clutch five-foot par on the 18th hole.
“I was really happy with how I hung in there, especially toward the end of the round,” said Steele, of Idyllwild and UC Riverside, who was tied for the halfway lead when he claimed the 2011 Valero Texas Open for his only PGA Tour victory.
“It’s always tougher in the afternoon, with the greens getting a little firmer, so I’m really happy with the way I played. Everything is pretty good. Normally, I’m a pretty good ball-striker and that was even better, and I holed a few putts, so that’s a good combination.”
Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela, who opened with a 64, was only one stroke back until missing a 3 1/2-foot par putt on the final hole to shoot 72, and was tied for second with.
Will Wilcox, who shot a bogey-free 67, Graeme DeLaet of Canada, who had a 68, and Harold Varner III, who came in at 70.
Justin Rose of England posted a 69 and was three strokes back in a tie for sixth with Russell Henley, who also had a 69, Justin Thomas, who totaled a 70, and Martin Laird of Scotland, who wound up at 71.
Patrick Rodgers of Stanford carded a 69 and was four strokes behind in a tie for 10th with Colt Knost, who registered a 66 that was the low round of the day, and J.J. Henry and Tyrone Van Aswegen of South Africa, who both finished at 69.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 3 in the world, shot 71 and was six shots down in a tie for 19th that included 2015 Rookie of the Year Daniel Berger (69), Charl Schwartzel (68) of South Africa, Kevin Na (71) of Diamond Bar and highly-ranked rookie Emiliano Grillo (71) of Argentina.
