Vegas leads PGA event as Kim surges at Marathon Classic

Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas fired a nine-under par 62 to seize the lead after Friday’s second round of the PGA John Deere Classic while American Lucas Glover made a rare albatross.

Vegas fired the second-lowest round of his PGA career, his lowest total since a 60 at the 2016 Barbasol Championship, to stand on 13-under 129 after 36 holes at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

American Andrew Landry fired his second 65 to hold second on 130 while Glover was another stroke adrift. Glover holed out at the par-5 10th on his approach from 255 yards with a 3-iron for the albatross, putting him in the hunt for his first PGA victory since 2011.

Glover’s ball bounced four times before rolling on the 10th green and into the cup. Vegas seeks his fourth PGA title after wins at the 2011 Bob Hope Classic and the 2016 and 2017 Canadian Opens. He would also like the British Open berth available to the best top-five finisher not already qualified for next week’s final major of the year at Royal Portrush. He missed the cut in the Open the past two years.

Vegas made a swing breakthrough on the driving range this week that has made a big difference in his game. It marked the sixth consecutive US PGA round with a player firing a 62.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kim Sei-young fired a bogey-free seven-under par 64 to seize a one-stroke lead over compatriot Lee6 Jeong-eun after Friday’s second round of the LPGA Marathon Classic.

Kim ran off four birdies in a row starting at the third hole, added birdies at 12 and 15 and closed with a birdie at the par-5 18th to finish 36 holes on 11-under 131 at Highland Meadows in Sylvania, Ohio.

Kim seized a one-stroke lead over ninth-ranked Lee6 with Americans Lexi Thompson, Jennifer Kupcho and Stacy Lewis sharing third on 133. Kim is chasing her ninth LPGA victory and second of the year.

Agencies