Saturday 15 July 2017 07:30, UK
Patrick Rodgers fired a seven-under 64 to move two strokes clear at the halfway stage of the John Deere Classic in Illinois.
Rodgers mixed eight birdies with a sole blemish in an impressive display at TPC Deere Run, lifting him two clear of nearest challenger Bryson DeChambeau.
Former Open champion Zach Johnson joins overnight leader Charles Howell III in a share of third on 10 under, with Kevin Tway part of the group a further stroke back after a round-of-the-day 63.
Beginning on the back nine and two strokes off the pace, Rodgers holed a 17-footer at the 14th and posted successive gains from the 16th to reach the turn in 33.
A two-putt gain at the par-five second was followed by a pitch-in from off the next green, before Rodgers picked up another birdie at the fifth and drained a 50-footer at the next.
Rodgers temporarily moved three clear with another long-range gain at the eighth, only for the American to card a three-putt bogey from 50 feet at the last.
Five birdies in a seven-hole stretch on his second nine helped DeChambeau to a six-under 65 and second spot, with 20 players heading into the weekend within six strokes of the lead.
Tway surged up the leaderboard with seven consecutive birdies around the turn and back-to-back gains from the sixth, only to bogey his penultimate hole and drop to nine under.
Watch the John Deere Classic throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Saturday from 7pm on Sky Sports Mix.
