Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa and Adam Svensson of Canada had been tied atop the leaderboard at 8 below when the second spherical of The Gamers Championship was suspended for the night time because of inclement climate Friday in Ponte Vedra Seaside, Fla.
The whole afternoon wave — 71 of the sphere’s 143 remaining gamers — will resume the second spherical Saturday at 7 a.m. at TPC Sawgrass.
That features the co-leaders. Bezuidenhout has 4 holes left to complete and Svensson has seven. Each gamers shot 4-under-par 68 within the first spherical and had been 4 below for his or her second rounds when play was halted.
They personal a two-shot lead over Ben Griffin, the chief within the clubhouse at 6-under 138; Collin Morikawa, the two-time main winner who had seven holes left to finish; and Australia’s Min Woo Lee, who has three holes to go.
World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler was tied for sixth with Canada’s Taylor Pendrith at 5 below, each with a number of holes nonetheless forward.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout is flying atop the leaderboard on the Gamers Championship
Adan Svensson is one other unlikely participant sat on the prime, halfway via his second spherical
Bezuidenhout started his spherical on the again 9 and birdied the primary two par 5s, Nos. 11 and 16, earlier than including birdie 3s at Nos. 1 and 4. He caught his method shot at No. 4 simply 7 ft from the pin and made the birdie putt to maneuver to eight below not lengthy earlier than play was suspended.
‘Early on within the spherical, I knew it was going to be robust, however the again 9 has acquired some high quality holes, and that is the important thing round right here,’ Bezuidenhout stated. ‘It’s a must to preserve the ball within the quick stuff, which I did. I used to be hitting a whole lot of greens and have putted properly during the last couple days.’
Svensson additionally was getting scorching when the climate picked up. He started his spherical on the again 9 and birdied the par 5s. He then transformed two straight on the par-4 first and par-5 second.
Svensson stated staying targeted would be the problem and the important thing for a doubtlessly extra-long Saturday.
‘I’ve accomplished a whole lot of 36-hole qualifiers, and also you simply get mentally drained,’ he stated. ‘Simply acquired to get some good relaxation and keep targeted and simply preserve having fun with myself as a result of I am having a whole lot of enjoyable.’
Collin Morikawa is without doubt one of the most high-profile gamers chasing down the 2 leaders
Bezuidenhout, 28, has 10 wins worldwide, together with three on the DP World Tour, however has but to assert a PGA Tour title. Svensson, 29, earned his maiden PGA Tour title earlier this season on the RSM Traditional in November.
Morikawa started the day alone in second after a first-round 65. After birdieing his first gap he picked up bogeys on the second and eighth.
Scheffler, vying to reclaim the No. 1 spot within the Official World Golf Rating this week, had simply made two straight birdies on the par-5 ninth and par-4 tenth when play was suspended.
‘I wasn’t swinging my finest, however I made two good birdies towards the top of the spherical after which clearly the delay will damage just a little, however begin again up within the morning,’ Scheffler stated.
Chad Ramey was the 18-hole chief due to a sterling 8-under 64 Thursday, however he encountered hassle at Sawgrass’ famed No. 17 island inexperienced. He missed the inexperienced not as soon as however twice, and the 2 penalty strokes plus a two-putt added as much as a quadruple bogey 7 that knocked him from the lead at 9 below down to five below.
The second day of play was suspended at Sawgrass with many gamers nonetheless out on the course
One other bogey earlier than play was halted left Ramey at 4 below with eight holes to play, tied for eighth with notables Jason Day of Australia, Viktor Hovland of Norway and others.
The projected lower line as of Friday night time was 1 over par, however it could shift Saturday as gamers transfer up or down the leaderboard. Jordan Spieth might have managed to save lots of his weekend by eagling his ultimate gap, the par-5 ninth, to salvage a 75 and rise up to even par for the event.
Notable names on monitor to overlook the lower embrace Matt Fitzpatrick of England (3-over 147), Matt Kuchar (4-over 148) and Keegan Bradley (4-over 148). World No. 3 Rory McIlroy of Northern Eire was 2 over via 10 holes and 6 over for the event.
Spanish star Jon Rahm, the world No. 1 who has already gained three occasions this season, withdrew earlier than beginning his second spherical because of an sickness. His withdrawal ended the longest energetic streak of made cuts on tour at 25.
