Canada’s Nick Taylor endured an inconsistent second round on Friday at the Sony Open in Hawaii, but the defending champion retained a share of the lead at the PGA Tour’s season-opening event in Honolulu.
Taylor shot a 1-under-par 69, leaving him at 9-under 131.
Also at 9 under are first-round co-leader Kevin Roy, who carded a 69 on Friday, Davis Riley (64), Belgium’s Adrien Dumont de Chassart (67) and South Korea’s S.H. Kim (68).
Maverick McNealy (66), Chris Gotterup (69), England’s John Parry (68) and Japan’s Takumi Kanaya (66) are tied for sixth at 8 under.
Taylor offset four birdies with three bogeys on Friday as he seeks to win on the PGA Tour for the fourth year in a row.
He acknowledged he has a lot of players to hold off if he is to earn his seventh career tour victory.
“I feel like at least here the first two days it’s very bunched,” Taylor said. “I don’t know how many guys are within a couple shots of the lead, but probably almost double digits.”
After following up a 62 on Thursday with a 69, Taylor said, “Today was difficult because conditions were much harder today, slightly different (wind) directions. It was really different golf course today compared to yesterday.
“So there is still some opportunities, but like a lot of par-3s you’re happy with pars. I played them even today, which is pretty solid.”
Roy endured a round similar to Taylor’s: three bogeys, four birdies. He birdied the par-4 ninth hole to close his round and keep his spot among the co-leaders.
“It was hard for sure,” Roy said. “Felt like when you get wind like that, (it) doesn’t really feel like it’s in the same direction. It’s just blowing everywhere, seems like.
“I tried to do a really good job at just trying to plot myself around the course. I don’t think I hit many greens, but my short game kind of saved me today. It was hard, but we got it done.”
Riley equaled the best round of the day with a 64 that featured seven birdies and a lone bogey.
“I putted really well, but I definitely hit the ball a little bit better today,” he said. “It maybe wasn’t even better; I just didn’t have as many crazy shots as yesterday.”
Among other notable players, Russell Henley shot a 73 to drop to 2 under overall while Collin Morikawa (second-round 68) and Keegan Bradley (72) missed the cut at even par.
–Field Level Media
