American Doug Ghim stayed on top at the John Deere Classic after another eagle from the fairway, while South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter surged into contention.
Ghim carded a three-under-par 68 in the second round at TPC Deere Run in Illinois to reach 12-under 130. His round included three birdies, a bogey and a spectacular eagle at the par-four 15th, where he holed out from 180 yards.
“I guess holing out two days in a row is always nice,” said Ghim. “It’s been a couple years since I holed out from the fairway. To get two on back-to-back days is great.”
The 29-year-old began on the 10th and opened with a birdie before dropping a shot at the 12th. The eagle at the 15th, he said, gave him a huge lift.
“It just felt like a huge, huge boost so it helped me stay more patient because something good happened to me there,” he said.
Ghim is aiming to become the 25th player to earn a maiden PGA Tour title at this event. He leads a chasing pack of five players on 11-under 131, including defending champion Davis Thompson, who fired an eight-under 63, and Max Homa, who matched Ghim’s 68.
Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and Americans Brian Campbell and David Lipsky are also one shot back, while another six players are a further stroke behind on 132 going into the weekend.
South Africa’s Potgieter, who triumphed last week in Detroit, signed for a five-under 66 to move to nine-under 133. Countryman Thriston Lawrence is one shot further back on eight under after a second-round 68.
The third round will start earlier on Saturday due to forecast thunderstorms.
“The leaderboard is so bunched,” said Ghim. “I’ll just keep my head down and try to birdie some par fives and roll in a couple more 15-footers.”
Homa, a six-time PGA Tour winner, briefly tied the lead after sinking a 20-foot birdie at the 17th but dropped a shot at the 18th after finding a fairway bunker.
“It got really windy,” said Homa, who is chasing a first top-25 finish since March. “The greens got pretty crusty. It’s just nice to keep playing well.”
Campbell recovered from an early bogey to reel off six birdies, including four in a row on the back nine, for a 66. Grillo also posted a 66 and Lipsky signed for a four-under 67.
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© Agence France-Presse
Photo: David Berding/Getty Images
Article Link: Ghim keeps John Deere Classic lead, Potgieter lurks