McKinney, Texas – Scotty Schaeffler and Jordan Spieth share a strong desire to win their hometown event, CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Top-ranked player Schaeffler has a great chance to do it first.
Playing with his good friend Spieth, a Dallas fellow and Texas alumnus, Schaeffler filled the lead on Friday, shooting a 63-under 63, reaching the under-18 hole as one of the early finishers in the second round, which was late for the weather.
Approximately half of the field did not complete the round after a six hour delay. The last player did not tee off until about 15 minutes before sunset at Soggy TPC Craig Ranch, in suburbs of Dallas.
They all think they are chasing Schaeffler this weekend.
The play was interrupted by the darkness as Schaeffler led Sam Stevens (65) with six shots. It will resume on Saturday at 7:15am local time.
“This tournament definitely means a lot to me,” said Schaeffler, who made his PGA Tour debut at Byron Nelson in 2014. “It would be so much fun to play here and have a chance to win.”
The TPC Craig Ranch produced a low score without the soft condition of the pillow, and did not match Scheffler. He opened on Thursday at 61, with his total of 124 beating his previous 36-hole best at Nelson with two shots. The two-time Masters champion missed Justin Thomas’ 36-hole PGA Tour record in 2017 on one stroke.
Spieth couldn’t keep up, but he thinks he’s safe in the cut line after the age of 67.
Venezuelan Jonattan Vegas, who also played for the Longhorns, finished 69 after starting his second day and was eight shots behind Schaeffler. Ricky Castillo was under 10 on the 18th fairway, when play was suspended.
Schaeffler, a bogey-free in the second round, started from the back nine and analyzed the first eight holes before I on the par 5 18th just before play was interrupted.
The lightning began to delay, and several hours of rain continued – the second time in three days. When the players returned, most shots on the fairway were sprayed with water.
None of them bothered Schaeffler. Schaeffler hit 12 of the 14 fairways and had six birdies on the final nine holes.
“We had some fairways that were pretty wet, but other than that, I don’t think the golf course was going pretty well,” Schaeffler said.
Defending champion Taylor Pendris shot a 71, under the age of four, and was probably at risk of missing a cut.
The weather forecast said Schaeffler believed there would be a long delay before his round began. Once that came he spent most of his time in the clubhouse, dined and chatted with players.
“The food just sits there,” Schaeffler said. “So we enjoyed some food, we sat there and hanged out with some people and didn’t do much.”
The delay did not stop the momentum from the Eagle winning the weather. All six of his birdie putts were within 15 feet.
“We’re on a golf course where you have to make some birdies and today we’ve changed quite a bit,” Schaeffler said. “It was obviously a big rain delay, and that was a challenge too. I’m out and playing with the wind and pretty wet fairways, but overall it’s great to play at home.”
Stevens birded four of his final six holes, including two par 3s, and played the first two rounds without bogeys. The 28-year-old, seeking his first PGA Tour victory, was second in the Farmers Insurance Open in January.
“There’s so many birdies here, there’s a lot of golf to play, you have to keep your head down,” Stevens said. “And if I get to a situation where I’m fighting nine holes, I’ll draw some memories.”
This report uses information from the Associated Press.