If the name Tyrone Van Aswegen doesn’t ring a bell, don’t worry – you aren’t alone.
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While Leishman remains on track for his second victory in this event – his maiden and only win on the PGA Tour was here in 2012 – the story of the day among the Australians was Aaron Baddeley. Sebastian Cappelen (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 4-under 67 and was tied for 21st. “That’s all I can do”.
Kelly, 49, played at the nearby University of Hartford.
Blayne Barber had the best round of the day with a 64 of his own to top the seven players two strokes back. Tournament host Paul Lawrie also advanced to the last 32, beating Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard 4 and 2.
After starting the year with a bang by finishing third in the Frys.com Open, Van Aswegen has struggled of late. “It was the difference maker”, said the South African Van Aswegen. “I think with no wind on this course we would have seen double digits (under par) by now”.
After a second straight bogey-less round, maybe he can.
Van Aswegen fired a bogey-free 66 to move up eight spots Friday.
Henley had the best round of the four leaders on Friday with a 5-under 65. He pulled into a tie for the lead after a 128-yard approach shot on 18 gave him a 2-foot birdie putt.
“The driver was great, irons were for the most part good, and I felt like I putted well”.
The 40-year-old Taylor, who won for the first time since 2005 at Pebble Beach earlier this year, strung together five consecutive birdies to shoot a 30 on the back nine.
“I’m Happy with the day”.
But they were all in pursuit of American journeyman Vaughn Taylor who birdied five of his last seven holes to rocket into a tie for the lead.
Besides the Americans, three other Olympians are playing in Cromwell.
Watson, who will represent the United States in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was serenaded with chants of “USA!”
Watson’s fans might have their sights set on Rio, but the 37-year-old’s focus lies in Cromwell.
“I’m exhausted, ” he said. “I really love taking their emotion and bringing it in and really having fun with them”. I don’t think anyone has gone 72 holes without a bogey. “I love every minute of it”, Knox said.
The cut was made at 1-under the card with Ogilvy, Allenby and Bowditch all missing the weekend action.
With possible thunderstorms in the forecast, golfers are scheduled to start at 7 a.m. ET (1100 GMT) for Saturday’s third round in threesomes going off two tees. He battled his way to a 70 on Friday, which included a run of three bogeys in four holes from Nos. “It would’ve been a thrill of a lifetime to be (there)”, Watson said, “but being defending champ, knowing this course as well as I do, why would I not come here and try to (defend).?”
Meanwhile, Kim Si-koo managed a hole-in-one on the fifth hole – the first ace at the Travelers Championship since 2011.
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In fact, the 7-under 133 total is the highest 36-hole total at River Highlands since 1992. Lucas Glover withdrew from the tournament Thursday for an undisclosed reason and was replaced by alternate Lucas Lee.
