Harris English, an American in only his second season on the US PGA Tour, matched his low round of the year with a six-under-par 64 on Friday to seize a two-stroke lead at the St Jude Classic.
English, whose other 64 came at the Byron Nelson Championship, stood on 10-under 130 for 36 holes with compatriot Shawn Stefani second on 132 after a firing a second-round 65.
“I’m still getting comfortable out here, just trying to get in the hunt of a golf tournament every time,” English said. “I’ve worked very hard the last couple of weeks and couple of months to get in this position.”
English, seeking his first PGA triumph, opened with three birdies in a row and holed out from 175 metres for eagle at the par-4 fifth.
“I was playing a little short of it because that green goes front to back pretty good,” English said. “It landed about 10, 12 feet short and kicked right and rolled right in.”
The 23-year-old, with three top-10 finishes this season, added birdie putts at 15, from five metres, and 16, from three metres, before closing with his lone bogey.
“When I get in that kind of situation, everything is pretty much going my way and I’m very much in control of my ball,” English said. “I’m really trying to birdie every hole.”
Stefani had a bogey-free round with back-to-back birdies at the par-5 third and par-3 fourth as well as the par-3 eighth and par-4 ninth and a final birdie at the par-5 16th.
Americans Scott Stallings and Paul Haley shared third on 135, five strokes off the lead. Davis Love was in an all-American group on 136 that also included Glen Day, Justin Hicks, Nicholas Thompson and Doug LaBelle.
Stuart Appleby was the best-placed Australian in a pack on 137, seven shots behind English, after rounds of 66 and 71. Defending champion Dustin Johnson, in his return from a back injury, is tied Appleby and 10 others.
Phil Mickelson, a five-time US Open runner-up who will try again to claim the long-sought crown next week at Merion, fired a 67 to stand in a group on 138, much happier than after his opening-round 71.
“I let a number of shots slide (Thursday),” Mickelson said. “I made a couple of dumb mistakes and I think that’s why I enjoy the competing element before a big event like the US Open next week.
“And I’m not selling myself out this week. I feel like if I play better than I did today, I’ve got a low round in me.”
