Americans Charley Hoffman and Ryan Palmer didn’t slow down like the rest of the field and retained the reins of Saturday’s QBE Shootout tournament in Naples, Fla.
The modified alternate-stroke formula used in the second round was much less mild than that of Friday’s favorite “Scramble”.
Each of the 12 couples participating in this show event had managed to deduct at least 10 hits from par in the first 18 pennants. On Saturday there were only four who pulled off such a feat and they all find themselves at the top of the leaderboard.
Hoffman and Palmer, who were in the lead, scored 10 birdies and found themselves at -26. Thanks to an eagle on the 17th hole, their compatriots Sahith Theegala and Tom Hoge hit a second straight card of 60 (-12) to take second place.
The day was particularly difficult for the only Canadian in the running, Corey Conners, and his playing partner, South Korean KH Lee. They fell from season two to season seven, unable to get more than four hits from par. With a total of -18, they must multiply their wonders to obliterate the eight strokes that separate them from the leaders.