Pádraig Harrington shot a level par 72, but still trailed by five shots midway through the second round of the Shell Houston Open at Redstone GC Tournament Course in Humble, Texas, yesterday.
With half the field still to complete their rounds, the American trio of Bob Estes, Jason Gore and DJ Brigman set the clubhouse target on six-under-par 138. Estes added a one-under-par 71 to his opening 67 with nines of 36 and 35.
Gore, who opened with a 70, fired four birdies in a second nine of 33, while Brigman, after a first nine of 33, eagled the 13th on his way to a 68 and a place at the top of the leaderboard.
Harrington, meanwhile, had another uninspiring day mixing three birdies with three bogeys in in his 72 for a one-under-par total of 143. Bernhard Langer shot 70 in the second round for 141.
Gordon McKie has been appointed head greenkeeper at the Old Course at St Andrews.McKie, who switches from the New Course next month, said: "It is a privilege to work on the most famous course in the world.
"The history and tradition surrounding the Old Course make it unique and it is continually under the glare of the international media spotlight.
"I am very much looking forward to maintaining the exceptionally high standard of the course and ensuring it continues to set the benchmark for links courses around the world."
The Old Course stages the British Women's Open in August.
(US unless stated, Par 72)
138 - Bob Estes 67 71, Jason Gore 70 68, DJ Brigman 70 68
139 - Hunter Mahan 68 71
140 - KJ Choi (Jpn) 70 70, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 68 72
141 - Stephen Leaney (Aus) 70 71, Joey Sindelar 70 71, Bernhard Langer (Ger) 71 70, Sean O'Hair 70 71, Alex Cejka (Ger) 72 69, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 71 70, Jonathan Byrd 69 72, David Branshaw 70 71, Ryan Armour 71 70
142 - John Cook 72 70, Ken Duke 69 73, Charley Hoffman 73 69, Dudley Hart (Aus) 71 71
143 - Marco Dawson 71 72, David Howell (Eng) 70 73, John Senden (Aus) 71 72, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 71 72, Gavin Coles (Aus) 74 69, Stephen Marino 73 70, Anders Hansen (Fin) 74 69
144 - Chris Riley 69 75, Steve Flesch 74 70, Greg Owen (Eng) 74 70, Parker McLachlin 74 70
145 - Jeff Gove 76 69, Steve Allan (Aus) 73 72, Nick Watney 74 71, Jim Rutledge (Can) 72 73, Michael Boyd 75 70, John Merrick 72 73
146 - Cameron Beckman 71 75, Bill Haas 76 70, Peter Lonard (Aus) 72 74, Ryan Palmer 77 69, Jason Dufner 73 73, Chris Stroud 75 71
147 - Ryan Moore 71 76, Jeff Brehaut 76 71, Kevin Stadler 74 73
148 - Boo Weekley 71 77, Steve Elkington (Aus) 77 71, Thomas Levet 75 73, Kent Jones 74 74
149 - Jason Bohn 75 74, Will MacKenzie 74 75, Brad Faxon 75 74, Doug LaBelle II 77 72
Early Scores
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