Patton Kizzire uses hot finish to take lead at Procore

 

[September 14, 2024]  Patton Kizzire drained six birdies on his back nine Friday to shoot a 7-under-par 65 and take the halfway lead at the Procore Championship in Napa, Calif.

Kizzire moved to 13-under 131 for the week at Silverado Resort's North Course. He enters the weekend one shot ahead of first-round leader David Lipsky, who followed his opening 65 with a 67.

Patrick Fishburn carded a 65 to grab third place at 11 under.

Matt Kuchar tied for the round of the day with an 8-under 64, which moved the veteran into a share of fourth place at 10 under with J.J. Spaun (65 on Friday). Defending champion Sahith Theegala was just behind them at 9 under following a 66.

Kizzire entered the "FedEx Cup Fall" portion of the season No. 132 in the standings, and Lipsky was even further back at No. 163. They and their peers are trying to play their way into the top 125 by the end of the fall in order to secure full status for the 2025 PGA Tour season.

Kizzire, 38, birdied the first hole Friday but went quiet until making the turn. He recorded three straight birdies at Nos. 10-12 and added circles on his card at the 15th, 17th and 18th holes.

"I just struggled a little bit (early on), I wasn't hitting the fairways," Kizzire said. "I was battling a little bit, hitting good putts that weren't going in. I stayed patient and kept my head and by the time I got to the back nine, that even keel paid off. I made six birdies on the back nine and turned it into a great day."

Among his highlights were a tee shot at the par-3 11th that nestled within 5 feet of the pin and a 28 1/2-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th that tracked from left to right and straight into the cup.

Kuchar, 46, is looking to become the tour's oldest winner since Phil Mickelson captured the 2021 PGA Championship at age 50.

"The bar has been set by a lot of people still playing great golf late in their 40s, into their 50s," Kuchar said. "It's something I don't think too much about. Like I know I'm 46, but I don't see myself as a veteran. I still see myself as a young kid that's excited to go play."

The cut line settled at 3 under par. Among the notable players who missed the cut were two-time tournament champion Max Homa (1 under), Wyndham Clark (2 over) and Mark Hubbard and Kevin Streelman, who both followed first-round 67s with 5-over 77s to drop to even par.

--Field Level Media

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