Mexico City: Gary Woodland fired a six-under-par 65 to open up a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the US PGA Tour’s OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico on Friday.
The 32-year-old from Kansas produced a bogey-free round with six birdies and 12 pars to head into the weekend at Playa del Carmen at 13-under 129.
Woodland, who shot a seven-under-par 64 in his opening round on Thursday, powered into the lead with a superb finish, sinking three birdies over the final four holes.
The highlight of a flawless round came on the par-four 16th, when he hit a superb six-iron from the fairway to three feet for a simple birdie putt.
“Nice to get back into the wing of things, very comfortable with where I’m at right now,” said Woodland, who got married last month in a hectic close season.
Woodland leads by one from Webb Simpson, the 2012 US Open champion, who shot a second consecutive six-under-par 65 to be 12-under after 36 holes.
Like Woodland, Simpson finished strongly, recording three consecutive birdies on his closing three holes after teeing off on the 10th at the 6,987-yard layout.
Simpson, who has yet to record a bogey over the opening two rounds, relied on a red-hot putter to do the damage.
The 31-year-old from North Carolina took just 22 putts to compile his round as he chases a fifth career win.
One of his six birdies on Friday came after he narrowly missed out on a hole-in-one at the 155-yard par three 15th, his eight iron tee-shot almost rolling into the cup to leave him with a tap-in.
One behind Simpson and two off the lead on 11-under was Scott Piercy, who shot a five-under-par 66 comprised of six birdies and one bogey.
Ben Martin meanwhile was one of the day’s biggest movers, climbing to nine-under overall after his seven-under-par 64.
The 29-year-old from South Carolina might have made climbed higher had it not been for two bogeys which spoiled a superb display.
Martin opened with a trio of birdies and bagged three more over the front nine before carding another three after the turn to finish the day four off the lead.
