Little-known Levin surges ahead at frost-delayed Phoenix Open

Arizona: Little-known American Spencer Levin eagled the par-four 17th on his way to a commanding six-shot lead in the unfinished second round of the frost-delayed Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday.

In pursuit of his first victory on the PGA Tour, Levin fired a flawless eight-under-par 63 at the TPC Scottsdale to post a 14-under total of 128.

The 27-year-old holed out from a greenside bunker to eagle the driveable 17th and then parred the last to finish six ahead of compatriots John Huh (66) and world number six Webb Simpson (69).

American Kyle Stanley, agonisingly beaten in a playoff for today's Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, was a further stroke back at seven-under after also carding a 66.

However, 34 players were yet to complete the second round when play was halted in fading light, among them American Harrison Frazar who was at 11-under overall with three holes remaining.

It was an extra long day for Levin, who had to complete three holes from the opening round on Friday morning before setting off for round two.

He was delighted with his form, especially after struggling on the practice range before the start of the tournament.

Weird feeling

"It's kind of weird," Levin told reporters after covering his back nine in five-under 31. "Yesterday on the range before I teed off, I didn't feel good about my swing at all. I was hitting it all over the range, and I bogeyed my first hole.

"And I told my caddie going to the next tee: ‘This might be a nine-hole week here.' Shows you how crazy this game is, I guess. After that I just started playing good, simple as that."

Asked what had been the key to his 65-63 start, Levin replied: "I've been putting really well, and if you're going to shoot a low round you've got to putt good.

"I'm just going to try and stay as aggressive as I can the next two days. If you're playing well, chances are someone else is, too," added Levin.

Scores

• 64 - Jason Dufner, Ryan Palmer
• 65 - Spencer Levin, Webb Simpson, Bo Van Pelt
• 66 - Harrison Frazar, Derek Lamely, Jarrod Lyle (AUS), Kevin Na, Chez Reavie, Bubba Watson
• 67 - Kris Blanks, James Driscoll, Trevor Immelman (RSA), Matt Jones, Sung Hoon-kang (KOR), Bill Lunde, Seung Yul-noh (KOR), Jeff Overton, Rod Pampling (AUS)
• 68 - Keegan Bradley, Greg Chalmers (AUS), John Huh, Dustin Johnson, Justin Leonard, Billy Mayfair, Phil Mickelson, Scott Piercy, Kevin Streelman, Chris Stroud, Josh Teater, Johnson Wagner