Jonas Blixt shot a 64 on Friday at Colonial Country Club to secure the halftime lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
The 35-year old Swede, who entered his second day in Dallas three off the pace of overnight leader Tony Finau, signed for a bogey-free card comprised of four birdies, and a hole-out eagle-2 on the par-4 17th to reach 9-under par.
“Just a solid day of golf for me. Yesterday was as good as today. Just harder conditions yesterday,” said Blixt. “Kept the ball in play. Good tee shots. Decent second shots. Putter was semi hot.”
Kevin Na rode an eagle on the par-5 first hole to a bogey-free low round of 62 and into a tie for second-place with Finau (68) at 8-under par.
“It’s a good golf course for me. I look forward to coming here all the time. I have a pretty good record here,” said Na, who is the only player in tournament history to record three scores of 62 or better at Colonial.
“Just some golf courses that fit your game and you got to take advantage of those weeks, and this is one of them.”
After day-two 66, Rory Sabbatini was two further back, alone in fourth-place, on 6 under, one-shot clear of a five-player logjam, headlined by Jordan Spieth, who mixed five birdies with five bogeys en route to a level-par 70.
C.T. Pan (67), Jim Furyk (66), Jason Dufner (68), and Nick Watney (68) were tied with Spieth at 5-under par.
Rickie Fowler carded 74-68 and missed the weekend by a shot, snapping a streak of 21 consecutive made cuts. Other notables leaving Texas early were Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, and Zach Johnson.
Charles Schwab Challenge
Leaderboard: Top 5
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Jonas Blixt -9 (-6)
2. Kevin Na -8 (-8)
2. Tony Finau -8 (-2)
4. Rory Sabbatini -6 (-4)
5. Jordan Spieth -5 (E)
5. Jim Furyk -5 (-4)
5. C.T. Pan -5 (-3)
5. Jason Dufner -5 (-2)
5. Nick Watney -5 (2)
Stat Leaders
Driving: Cameron Champ (340.2 yards)
Fairways: Jonas Blixt (21/28, 75%)
Greens: Kevin Na (29/36, 80.6%)
Putts/GIR: Jordan Spieth (1.400)
Birdies: Jordan Spieth (13)
Pars: Francesco Molinari (31)
Video: Round-2 Highlights
A look at the highlights from Colonial Country Club during the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Quotable
“Had to have more patience yesterday because it was so much more windy and just kind of tried to keep the ball in play. Today you can actually go at some pins and be a little bit more aggressive and try to make birdies. Yesterday was kind of try to take care of what you got. Yeah, that’s the difference.”
– Jonas Blixt
