England’s Harry Hall shot a four-under-par 66 to take a three-stroke lead halfway through the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas on Friday.
Hall, ranked 197th in the world and chasing a first-ever PGA Tour victory, bounced back from a shaky start to land a series of birdies at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth and head into the weekend. end to less than 12 years.
The 25-year-old from Cornwall had taken the first-round lead after an eight-under clear Thursday.
Starting on the back nine on Friday, Hall missed his fourth hole of the day but then birdied on five of his next six holes to get his round back on track.
Although a bogey in the third dropped him to three under for the round, he coolly rolled in an 11-footer for a birdie in the seventh on the way to his four-under round.
“I don’t think I’ve played my best golf yet this year on the PGA Tour, and I think it happened this week,” Hall said.
“I hope I can continue for the next two days.”
Harris English leads Hall’s pursuit after matching the Englishman’s four under par 66, leaving him at nine under, three in the lead.
The highlight of a bogey-free round for the Englishman came with a brilliant ace on the par-three eighth, where his nine iron from the tee landed on the green and rolled into the hole.
“It came out the way I wanted and luckily it went in the hole,” English said.
“As long as I keep kicking the ball and keep giving myself chances, good things will happen this weekend.”
Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo was another shot back eight under after a five-under par 65, while three players – Adam Schenk, Robby Shelton and South Korea’s An Byeong-hun – were five off the lead on seven cents.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is also in the hunt after posting a second consecutive 67. Scheffler was tied for seventh alongside Andre Novak with six under.
“I would have liked to be a bit higher in the standings, obviously, but I feel like my game is in a really good position, so excited for the next two days,” Scheffler said.
But as Scheffler contemplated the weekend, golf’s new cult hero Michael Block was brought down to earth with a bump.
Club pro Block thrilled crowds at the PGA Championship last week after securing a 15th-place finish.
However, the 46-year-old finished bottom of the pack and missed the cut on Friday after a second-round 74 left him at 15 after his first-round 81.
Block, however, had no regrets after his whirlwind week and was eager to get home to play with his Labrador, Messy.
“He’s waiting for me,” Block said. “I haven’t seen him in almost two weeks, and I can’t wait to get home and kick the ball with him.”
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