IRVING — PGA Tour rookie Jon Curran capitalized on a fast start and some pinpoint iron shots to surge into a three-way tie for the lead in the weather-disrupted second round of the AT&T Byron Nelson here Friday. While Masters champion Jordan Spieth also charged into contention after struggling on the greens in his opening round, Curran set the early pace by firing a six-under-par 63 at the rain-saturated TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas.
“I got off to a pretty good start, hit some really close iron shots and I made some good 10 or 15-foot putts for birdie,” Curran told reporters. That left the 28-year-old at nine-under 130, where he was joined later in the day by fellow American Jimmy Walker (66) and overnight leader Steven Bowditch of Australia (68).
Walker and Bowditch did well to finish in fading light after the start to the second round had been delayed by three hours because of water-logged conditions caused by 4.5 inches of rainfall overnight.
Thirty-three players will have to complete the second round Saturday morning, though further thunderstorms are expected overnight Friday.
American Ryan Palmer (66) and Australian Cameron Percy (64) were at eight under with local favorite and world No. 2 Spieth a further two shots back after carding a 64.
Grounds crews worked hard in the morning to prepare the course for play, though the par-four 14th had to be shortened to a par-three measuring just 104 yards because of an unplayable fairway.
Officials said they would continue to evaluate the situation and determine whether to play the 14th hole as a par-three for the final two rounds.
Pressel grabs LPGA lead
American Morgan Pressel fired a five-under par 66 to seize a one-stroke lead after Friday's opening round of the Shoprite LPGA Classic in Galloway. Pressel, second at last month's LPGA Swinging Skirts Classic and seeking her third LPGA title, closed with an eagle at the par-5 ninth to claim the lead.
One stroke off the pace entering Saturday's second round of the 54-hole event were Canada's Alena Sharp, Taiwan's Min Lee, Sweden's Anna Nordqvist and American Ryann O'Toole.
Pressel answered a bogey at 14 with birdies at 16 and the par-5 18th, then birdied the par-5 third and the fifth before stumbling again at the sixth, setting up her birdie-eagle finish.
Pressel, who was third at the ANA Inspiration in the year's first major, has found her form after struggling in early season events in Asia. A pack of 10 players shared sixth on 67, including South Koreans Jenny Shin and Park Hee-Young, Scotland's Catriona Matthew, Swede Pernilla Lindberg, Dutchwoman Christel Boeljon, Thailand's Thidapa Suwannapura, Canada's Brooke Henderson and Americans Gerina Piller and Sydnee Michaels. — Agencies
