Hossler secures lead at Sedgefield Country Club
Beau Hossler has taken the solo lead at the Wyndham Championship, sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole late on Friday afternoon. This crucial shot propelled him to 12-under par for the tournament after 36 holes, giving him a 1-shot advantage heading into Saturday’s third round. Hossler’s performance included a 3-under par 67 for the day, following a strong comeback where he was two over through his first two holes but then recorded five under over the subsequent 16 holes.
The 87th Wyndham Championship, held at Sedgefield Country Club, saw a crowded second-round leaderboard. Hossler, who was the first-round leader, acknowledged the difficulty of the course. He commented that the course is challenging, stating, “If you put it in position, you can make a lot of birdies. If you don’t, it’s a long day.” He also noted that he felt out of position frequently during the day, making it feel like he played 36 holes instead of 18.
Chasing pack and course challenges
Sharing second place at 11-under are Englishman Jordan Smith and 23-year-old University of Virginia alumnus Ben James, both of whom are PGA TOUR rookies. A group of 10 players is a further shot back, creating a logjam for fourth place. In total, 23 players are within five shots of the lead as they head into the weekend rounds.
Ben James, making his eighth start since turning professional at the Canadian Open, began his round with an eagle on his first hole, holing out from the fairway. He managed to stay in contention despite two bogeys by adding three birdies. James described his round as a “pretty chill 67,” acknowledging the adversity players face but expressing satisfaction with holding it together and positioning himself well for the weekend.
Jordan Smith, a 33-year-old DP World Tour veteran in his first year on the PGA TOUR, delivered a strong performance with a 6-under 64, which moved him into second place. Smith noted that the course suits his game, emphasizing the importance of hitting fairways and greens due to the challenging rough and the sloped, fast greens. He also mentioned his putter has been performing well over the past two days.
The course’s demanding nature means no lead is secure. Sahith Theegala, who shot a 62 in the first round, followed it with a 69, featuring five birdies and four bogeys. Despite this, he remains only two shots back and in contention. Theegala expressed that his game was significantly worse on Friday, attributing it to fewer putts rolling in and missed short ones, as well as missing about half the fairways. He acknowledged the difficulty of playing from the rough but remained optimistic about his position for the weekend, stating the need to “put the gas pedal down.”
Weekend outlook and cut line drama
The drama on Friday also included the determination of the cut line, which ultimately settled at 3-under. This allowed the top 64 players and ties to advance to the weekend. This group includes defending champion Cameron Young, fan favorites Webb Simpson and Tony Finau, and major winners Jordan Spieth and Keegan Bradley.
Among those who missed the cut were former Wyndham Championship winners J.T. Poston, Lucas Glover, and Camilo Villegas, along with former major winners Jason Day and Brian Harman. Hossler, a 31-year-old professional for 10 years, is seeking his first PGA TOUR victory.
During his final hole, play was temporarily halted for 34 minutes due to lightning strikes in the area. Hossler recounted his experience during the delay, humorously describing his slow golf cart and having to acquire a better one to return to the clubhouse and then back to the course. He managed to sink his birdie putt after the delay, securing his strong finish and the lead. Hossler expressed his desire to win, stating, “I’m just going to play golf. But yes, of course, I want to win.”
The weekend promises intense golf, with crowds expected at various fan-friendly spots around Sedgefield Country Club.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
