Brian Stuard posted a second consecutive 5-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Marc Leishman of Australia and Hideto Tanihara of Japan after two rounds of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.
The 31-year-old Stuard, who has not won since claiming nine victories at Oakland University in Michigan before graduating in 2005, registered four birdies in the second round before hitting his second shot on his final hole, No. 9, to within two feet for a closing eagle.
“I think it’s something to do with the greens,” said Stuard, who has registered seven straight rounds in the 60s at Waialae, the last four of them 65s. “I feel comfortable on the greens. I feel like I read them pretty well and I’m able to make putts.”
Leishman, who captured the 2012 Travelers Championship and tied for fourth last year in the Masters, also eagled the ninth hole with a 12-foot putt and added three birdies in the next four holes on his way to a 64.
Tanihara, 35, who has won 10 times on the Japan Golf Tour, sank a nine-foot putt on the 18th hole for his sixth birdie of the day in a round of 65.
Harris English, looking for his third victory in as many seasons, birdied six of his last 11 holes and was another shot back in solo fourth after a second 66.
Adam Scott, No 2 in the World Golf Rankings and trying to gain ground on Tiger Woods, recorded five birdies in a 66 and was three shots back in a tie for fifth that included first-round co-leaders Sang-Moon Bae of South Korea, who followed his 63 with a 70, and Chris Kirk, who had a 69 after an opening 64 .
Zach Johnson, who won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions last week, shot 67 and was five strokes behind in a tie for 17th that included Jason Dufner, the PGA champion, who came in at 68.
Jordan Spieth, the 2013 Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour, finished at 70-71–141 and missed the cut by two strokes.
–USGA photo
