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BSP-07
GOLF-USPGA
Golf: Harman seizes second-round lead at Sony Open
LOS ANGELES, Jan 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Brian Harman capped a seven-under
par 63 with an eagle at his final hole Friday to seize a three-shot lead in
the second round of the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii.
Harman, who has four top-10 finishes in four starts in the US tour’s 2017-
18 season, teed off early at Waialea in Honolulu, and opened with back-to-
back birdies at the 10th and 11th.
His six birdies on the day included three in a row at the second, third
and fourth and he rolled in a 17-footer at the par-five ninth for an eagle
that gave him a 13-under total of 127.
“I’m making putts, but I’m also putting myself in position to make those
putts,” Harman said. “I’m getting a bunch of looks. I’m not making everything
I’m looking at, but I’m hitting a lot of good putts and made a few.”
Overnight co-leaders Chris Kirk and Zach Johnson were in a group sharing
second place on 10-under par 130.
Kirk gave chase in the afternoon, opening his round with an eagle at the
10th hole and closing within one stroke before settling for a three-under 67
that concluded with a bogey at the par-five ninth.
“Definitely an up and down day,” Kirk said. “A few loose swings towards
the end, unfortunately, but a lot of really good ones as well.”
By then, two-time winner Johnson was in the clubhouse after a 67 that
included three birdies and an eagle at the ninth.
John Peterson opened with four straight birdies then picked up two more at
seven and nine to make the turn at six-under then had two birdies and two
bogeys coming in to sign for a 64 that gave him a share of second. Tom Hoge
closed with four straight birdies in a 65 that put him in the group on 10-
under.
Harman, who won his second career title at the Wells Fargo Championship
last season, is trying to build on a third-place finish at last week’s
Tournament of Champions, where he led at the halfway stage but was overtaken
by world number one Dustin Johnson.
He’s also aiming to put himself in line for berth on the US team for the
Ryder Cup in France, after missing out on a Presidents Cup spot last year.
“I was disappointed I didn’t make the Presidents Cup team. That one
definitely stung,” he said. “But I’ll use that going forward. That’s
definitely motivation.”
BSS/AFP/MRI/0952 hrs