PGA rookie Charlie Beljan made two eagles on his way to firing an eight-under par 64 on Friday to seize the lead at the final event of the US PGA season, while Australian Matt Jones kept his hopes of a tour card alive by shooting his way into a share of second.
Beljan stood on 12-under 132 after the second round of the $US4.7 million ($A4.54 million) tournament in Florida, three strokes in front of seven rivals trying to deny him the first triumph of his brief career.
Jones, who fired a 64 for his low round of the year, shares second place with six other players three-shots behind Beljan.
Fellow Australian Stuart Appleby remains a long way off the pace, backing up his opening round 74 with a second-round 68 to be two under for the tournament and 10 shots behind Beljan.
Jones started the tournament with only a slim chance of securing a guaranteed place on the tour next season, sitting in 192nd on the money list with $US250,800 earned for the year.
Only the top 125 are granted guaranteed playing cards for the following season, and with the top prize at this tournament being $US846,000 a win for Jones would shoot him into the top 100.
“Better late than never,” Jones said. “Hopefully we can keep going.”
Beljan began the week at 139th on the 2012 US PGA Tour money list at $US527,528 and needing to finish the event in the top 125 on the season prize money chart to keep his playing rights for next season.
Winning the tournament would leap Beljan to 65th on the money list.
Beljan had made the cut in only six of 18 prior events, with a best of sharing third at the Greenbrier Classic in July and a share of 10th at the McGladrey Classic last month.
But with his career on the line, Beljan came out firing, opening the second round with an eagle at the par-5 first. Birdies followed at the par-3 third, par-4 fifth and par-5 seventh.
Beljan began the back nine with a birdie then eagled the par-5 11th. After a bogey at the 12th, he bounced back with birdies on the next two holes and even a bogey at 17 could only give the trailing pack a bit more hope with 36 holes remaining.
Others sharing second with Jones on 135 were Japan’s Ryuji Imada, South Korean Charlie Wi, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and Americans Harris English, Mark Anderson and Charles Howell.
“One good weekend can mean a lot. It can turn your whole year around,” Imada said. “I’m in position to do that, but still got a long ways to go. I’ve had an awful year this year, so no expectations. Just going to go out and play hard.”
