Corey Conners had just one bogey as he finished the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a six-under 66 on Friday.
Conners, who was tied for 50th at even par to start the day, is currently tied for third at six under, three shots off the lead held by Kurt Kitayama after a blustery day. Play was called due to darkness with two players left on the golf course.
“I knew the forecast at the beginning of the week, knew today was going to be a challenging day – didn’t disappoint, I guess,” said. Conners.
“The wind was blowing from the get-go. I feel like we might have got a bit of a break on the first few holes, but it was a very challenging day,” he said.
“I took some positives from (Thursday’s first) round. I tried to play really smart today, focus on one shot at a time, hit it solid. I was able to do that really well, never got myself into too much trouble and was really happy with the way I struck it. I rolled in some nice putts,” said Conners.
“I think me and my caddie Danny Sahl did a great job of judging the wind, feeling the shots, seeing the shots, was able to execute a lot of good ones, so worked out well,” he said.
Conners, who admitted he had a bit of an advantage with the wind over the afternoon wave, had only one bogey on the par four 13th hole and four of his six birdies came on the par fives at Bay Hill.
“I just hit really good tee shots on all the par fives. A couple of them were playing downwind – I guess four and No. 12. I was able to hit irons on to the green there, which are two difficult greens to hit, regardless of what club you have, but just hit some solid shots. Then, got on the green on six into the wind a little bit,” said Conners.
“Then 16, you know, it was within range, but happy with the lay up and wedge it in there close, so you’ve got to take advantage of those holes, but keep it simple and try and hit it solid,” added Conners, who tied for 11th last year after a third-place finish in 2021.
“I think having success here in the past or playing well here in the past definitely adds some comfort, but it’s a very demanding golf course,” he said.
“It’s a very difficult golf course, but I feel like I’ve had a good strategy to tackle this test and just try and play my game, stick to what I do best and just try and focus on hitting it solid,” said Conners.
All of the scores are here.
Puerto Rico Open
No Canadians remain for the weekend at the Puerto Rico Open.
The leaderboard is here.
PGA Tour Champions
Mike Weir is tied for sixth, three shots off the lead, after he fired a four-under 68 in Friday’s first round of the Cologuard Classic in Tucson.
Stephen Ames is tied for 36th at even par and David Morland IV is tied for 65th after he opened with a 75.
Click here for the leaderboard.
Cactus Tour
Sarah-Eve Rheaume of Boischatel, Que., won at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, finishing the final round with a bogey-free, four-under 68.
With Rheaume at six under, Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., finished third at two under, followed in fourth at one under by Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C.
Click here for the leaderboard.
PGA Tour Canada Qualifying
Thomas Giroux of Georgetown, Ont., shot an 80 in windy conditions and tied for sixth at Q-School near Tampa and will be exempt through the mid-season shuffle.
Giroux finished all four rounds at five under. American amateur Jonathan Yaun topped the leaderboard at 12 under.
Canadians Hugo Bernard and amateur Johnny Travale earned conditional membership.
The winner earns full membership for 2023. Those who finish second through 10th (no ties) are exempt until the mid-season shuffle, while 11th through 30th (plus ties) receive conditional status.
The leaderboard is here.
LPGA Tour
Brooke Henderson shot her second consecutive, one-under 71 in Saturday’s third round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
Henderson is tied for 55th at four over as Jin Young Ko leads at 14 under and holds a two-shot edge on Nelly Korda.
That leaderboard is here.
Epson Tour
Selena Costabile opened Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven, Fla., with a 79.
Click here for the leaderboard.
