Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela played on the International Team in the 2017 Presidents Cup and wants to make Captain Ernie Els’ team for the matches Australia, but hasn’t played well enough this year—until Saturday.
The 34-year-old Vegas carded a flawless 9-under-par 62 to take a one-stroke lead over Andrew Landry midway through the 49th John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run https://tpc.com/deererun in Silvis, Ill.
“I had such a tremendous time there playing in that Presidents Cup that I definitely want to play in this one,” said Vegas, who collected four birdies on the front nine and five more coming home, needing only 26 putts. “Especially playing for Ernie, such a big guy for us Internationals, and it would be amazing to be a part of it. I’ve got to step it up these next few weeks and hopefully give myself a chance.
“ … Probably the best I’ve felt all year, to be honest. I mean, I hit the ball extremely well, kind of what I’ve been struggling with a little bit the past few months. … I’m glad that stuff is back. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good. I’ve been working really hard the whole year to kind of feel good with my ball-striking, and found something yesterday on the range, and it was so good to carry it through to today, and it paid off.
“Hopefully we can continue that the next two days.”
Vegas, who has won three times on the PGA Tour including the RBC Canadian Open in 2016 and 2017, posted a 36-hole score 13-under 129. He has only three top-10 finishes this season, including a tie for third in the Players Championship.
Landry, who claimed his first victory on the circuit earlier this year in the Valero Texas Open after losing to Jon Rahm in a playoff at the CareerBuilder Challenge, shot a second 65 despite making his only bogey in 36 holes at No. 6.
Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, holed his second shot from 255 on the 10th hole for a double-eagle 2 while recording a bogey-free 64 and is two shots behind in solo third.
Harold Varner III holed out from 42 yards for an eagle on the 14th hole in a 65 and is three down in a tie for fourth with Cameron Tringale (66) of Mission Viejo, Adam Schenk (65), Daniel Berger (66) and Russell Henley (68), who fell back with a double-bogey 6 on the final hole.
Roger Sloan of Canada bounced back from an early bogey to shoot 65 and is one more back in a tie for ninth with Vaughn Taylor, who sank a 19-foot putt on the 18th hole to finish at 68.
Ryan Moore, the 2016 John Deere champion, and 2014 winner Brian Harman both totaled 67 for the second straight day and are tied for 11th, first-round leader Roberto Diaz followed his 62 with a 73 and is tied for 25th, and rookie Matthew Wolff of Agoura Hills, who won the 3M Open last week, is tied for 51st after a 71.
Zach Johnson, the 2012 John Deere winner, wound up at 67 and is tied for 67th, while 2007 champion Jonathan Byrd stumbled to a 74 and missed the cut by five strokes, and defending champ Michael Kim totaled 72 and missed the weekend by six shots.
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