Thomas stretches lead to 5
Philadelphia 102, Charlotte 93 Toronto 132, Brooklyn 113 Boston 103, Atlanta 101 Memphis 110, Houston 105 Milwaukee 116, Miami 108 Minnesota 96, Oklahoma City 86 Orlando 115, Portland 109 Cleveland 120, Sacramento 108 Utah 110, Detroit 77
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Justin Thomas closed with an eagle for the second straight day as he followed rare 59 with a second-round 64 to extend his lead to five shots at the halfway stage of the Sony Open.
Thomas didn’t let up on Friday after becoming the seventh and youngest player in USPGA Tour history to shoot a 59.
He rolled in an eight-foot put on the 18th at Waialae in Honolulu, Hawaii, to get into the history books again by recording the tour’s record for lowest 36-hole total of 123.
“It’s cool,’’ Thomas said. “Just like yesterday, anytime you can get your name in the record books is awesome.’’
The 23-year-old American is at 17under and has a five stroke lead over fellow American Gary Woodland, who shot back-to-back 64s in the first two rounds.
“I really hit a lot of quality shots today,’’ Thomas said. “I obviously had a great day. To finish with an eagle was huge.
“The bogeys were a bit of a bummer but I made enough birdies on the back nine to counter that,’’ he said.
England’s Justin Rose and Zach Johnson shot 64 and 61 respectively and were tied for third with Hudson Swafford, who carded a 68.
Thomas joined elite company on Thursday. Most recently, Jim Furyk carded a record 58 at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut in August. Furyk also has a 59 on his tour resume, as does Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, David Duval, Paul Goydos, Australian Stuart Appleby.
“Rounds like yesterday happen when everything is clicking,’’ he said.