Jason Dufner surges into lead at CareerBuilder Challenge in California
Monday 25 January 2016 09:47, UK
Jason Dufner fired a seven-under 65 to top the leaderboard after the second round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in California.
Playing the tougher Stadium Course, the 2013 PGA Championship winner struck eight birdies, with a solitary bogey, to advance his score to 15 under.
Dufner started the day as joint leader on eight under and made hay on the front nine, peppering his card with birdies at holes one, two, five, seven, eight and nine.
"It's a difficult golf course," Dufner said. "There's a little bit of room to play off the tee, but if you get off the path a little bit, you can get into some trouble. It's definitely the most difficult of the courses we have played here."
That leaves him one shot clear of Jamie Lovemark, who carded a 65 on the Tournament Course. The American was helped by an eagle on the par-four first and five birdies.
Five men are a shot further back on 12 under, including Jason Gore, whose eight-under 64 on the Tournament Course was the best round of the day.
Another man climbing the leaderboard was Phil Mickelson, whose 65 on the Tournament Course saw him surge up 24 places to be tied eighth on 11 under.
"I'm probably a week away, if I'm being honest," Mickelson said. "But I've also won with a lot less game than I have right now."
Mickelson, now coached by Andrew Getson following his split with Butch Harmon late last year, faces the daunting Stadium Course in Saturday's third round, and he added: "I'm looking forward to the challenge and having to really focus on every tee shot to get it in play.
"But I hit a lot of good shots today on crucial tee shots and was able to get it in play. There's a lot of birdie opportunities still."
It was a disappointing day for joint overnight leaders Jeff Overton and Jerry Kelly. Overton's one-under-par 71 saw him slip down to tied 19th on nine-under while Jerry Kelly struck a 70 to move to 10 under.
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