After two rounds of play at the Quail Hollow Club, Matt Wallace, Gary Woodland, and Patrick Rodgers will enter the weekend at the Wells Fargo Championship with a share of the lead at 6-under 136.
The lead trio were one clear of little-known Kramer Hickok (69), and two in front of a foursome headlined by two-time Wells Fargo winner Rory McIlroy, who shot a 66 to rocket up the leaderboard.
Overnight leader Phil Mickelson, who struggled on Friday, was among a group of four more just three back at 3 under.
Wallace had the low round among the leaders with a 4-under 67, one and two shots better than Rodgers (68) and Woodland (69), respectively.
The Englishman, who posted a solo third at the Valero last month, is seeking his maiden PGA Tour victory.
“The PGA Tour is really tough. The golf courses are amazing, they’re big, the players from top to bottom can win, and so it’s very difficult to get it done,” said Wallace.
“I’m just playing — I’m playing really nice now. Ever since Bay Hill I’ve been on a nice stretch. I’m in a good mental space.
“Everything I want to achieve on the golf course, I know what I need to do to achieve that and, yeah, we’re in a good spot.”
The biggest mover of the day was Canadian Roger Sloan, who followed an opening-round 76 with a second-day 64 to reach 2-under par. The score moved Sloan 24 spots up the board, from T138 to T14, alongside Patrick Reed (69), Stewart Cink (69), and Joel Dahmen (72), among others.
The 33-year old Calgary native called it his best round of the year.
“Yeah, probably the round of the year for me,” said Sloan who is ranked No. 355 in the world. “When you start the day that far back, you don’t really have a whole lot to lose, so I was kind of freewheeling there on the front nine. Made a couple good shots, had some putts roll in. Then the wind picked up on the back nine.
“Still thought I played nicely. Really finished the round solid with a birdie on 16 and then to close out on 18 – 18’s playing quite difficult today into the wind, so kind of stole one on
18.
“Now it sets up for a good weekend for us.”
World No. 2 Justin Thomas chased a 69 with a 73 and fell to T42 on even-par 142. Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler‘s struggles continued as the 2012 Fargo winner shot 6-over 77 and missed the cut by three shots.
Sungjae Im was even worse. The Korean shot 11-over 82 to fall from T10 to T131.
Defending champion Max Homa entered in good form but will exit early after opening rounds of 77 and 76 left him at 11 over par.
2021 Wells Fargo Championship
Wells Fargo Top 5: Round 2
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Matt Wallace -6 (-4)
1. Patrick Rodgers -6 (-3)
1. Gary Woodland -6 (-2)
4. Kramer Hickok -5 (-2)
5. Rory McIlroy -4 (-5)
5. Scott Piercy -4 (-3)
5. Carlos Ortiz -4 (-3)
5. Scott Stallings -4 (-2)
5. Keith Mitchell -4 (E)
