Kurt Kitayama charges in front at Arnold Palmer Invitational

 

[March 04, 2023]  Kurt Kitayama shot a 4-under-par 68 on Friday, and he holds a two-stroke lead at the midway point of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

Kitayama sits at 9-under 135 through two rounds at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

Jordan Spieth, who carded a second-round 69, holds second place at 7 under.

Xander Schauffele (70 on Friday) and Canada's Corey Conners (66) are tied for third place at 6 under. Justin Thomas (67 on Friday), Davis Riley (69), Patrick Cantlay (71) and England's Matt Fitzpatrick (69) share fifth place at 5 under.

First-round leader Jon Rahm of Spain followed a 7-under round on Thursday with a 4-over 76 on Friday, leaving him in a tie for 13th at 3 under.

Kitayama, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory in his 50th start, carded five birdies and one bogey on Friday. He is a leader or co-leader after 36 holes for the third time this season, the most of any player on tour.

He has finished second in three career events, all last year.

"I think I've put myself in good spots," Kitayama said. "Right now I feel like I'm just trying to get that win is, you know, it's tough, especially with the guys I've been against. So just got to keep putting myself in that position to give myself a chance. ...

"Definitely a lot of confidence knowing that I'm able to stay with ‘em. You get a couple good breaks and it's your tournament, really. So I just got to try to be right up there until the end."

Spieth had a run of four birdies and three pars on the back nine before closing with a bogey on the par-4 18th hole. He hit his final drive 199 yards into thick rough on the left and was allowed a free drop.

"I was trying to, like, hit a low one that held the wind that didn't get up in the air much and I drop-kicked it, which I don't think I've ever done on Tour," Spieth said. "I've hit a lot of good tee balls. That one wasn't one of ‘em."

Swedish amateur Ludvig Aberg is tied for ninth place at 4 under after consecutive 70s. He is the first amateur to make the cut in Orlando since Norway's Viktor Hovland in 2019.

Two players, Justin Suh (tied for 20th at 2 under) and Greg Koch (tied for 65th at 2 over), did not complete the second round before play was suspended due to darkness. If Koch goes under par on his final hole, the cut line would move to 1 over. If not, the cut would be at 2 over (as long as Suh remains 1 over or better).

--Field Level Media

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