Rookie Henley sets Sony record
Source: Agencies |
January 13, 2013, Sunday
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TWO days into his PGA Tour career, Russell Henley has written his name into golf's record books and taken a two-shot lead at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Henley putted for birdie on every hole on Friday on his way to a second straight round of a 7-under 63.
His total of 14-under 126 gave him a two-shot lead over fellow rookie Scott Langley and Scott Piercy, and also broke the 36-hole tournament record by two strokes.
Matt Kuchar made eagle on the 18th hole to finish off a 63. He was three shots behind.
"It's pretty surreal," Henley said.
In the first full-field event of the season, the rookies were leading the way. All they did on another windy, warm day along the shores of Oahu was trade places atop the leaderboard. Langley opened with a 62 and followed that with a 66. That typically would be enough to stay in the lead.
Langley said he tried to stay aggressive, and then he felt he had no choice. He birdied his last three holes to reach 128.
Piercy looked as though he had a chance to catch Henley in the afternoon, even as a gentle wind turned into nothing more than a breeze, but he spent most of his time grinding over pars. A birdie on the par-5 ninth, his last hole, gave him another 64.
That means Henley and Langley will be paired together for the third straight day, this time in the last group going into the weekend.
"It's never easy to back up a really good round, I kind of got off to a little slower start," Langley said. "But it was certainly nice to finish the way I did and kind of get back in it with Russ. He played so well, and I was just trying to keep pace as much as I can. To finish that way was really good."
Meanwhile, Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant have received invitations to play in this year's Masters at Augusta, tournament organizers said on Friday.
The tournament is scheduled for April 11-14.
Wiratchant, 46, became the oldest winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit by topping the money list in 2012.
It will be his first Masters appearance.
Henley putted for birdie on every hole on Friday on his way to a second straight round of a 7-under 63.
His total of 14-under 126 gave him a two-shot lead over fellow rookie Scott Langley and Scott Piercy, and also broke the 36-hole tournament record by two strokes.
Matt Kuchar made eagle on the 18th hole to finish off a 63. He was three shots behind.
"It's pretty surreal," Henley said.
In the first full-field event of the season, the rookies were leading the way. All they did on another windy, warm day along the shores of Oahu was trade places atop the leaderboard. Langley opened with a 62 and followed that with a 66. That typically would be enough to stay in the lead.
Langley said he tried to stay aggressive, and then he felt he had no choice. He birdied his last three holes to reach 128.
Piercy looked as though he had a chance to catch Henley in the afternoon, even as a gentle wind turned into nothing more than a breeze, but he spent most of his time grinding over pars. A birdie on the par-5 ninth, his last hole, gave him another 64.
That means Henley and Langley will be paired together for the third straight day, this time in the last group going into the weekend.
"It's never easy to back up a really good round, I kind of got off to a little slower start," Langley said. "But it was certainly nice to finish the way I did and kind of get back in it with Russ. He played so well, and I was just trying to keep pace as much as I can. To finish that way was really good."
Meanwhile, Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant have received invitations to play in this year's Masters at Augusta, tournament organizers said on Friday.
The tournament is scheduled for April 11-14.
Wiratchant, 46, became the oldest winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit by topping the money list in 2012.
It will be his first Masters appearance.
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