Simpson Continues Low Scoring Trend at TPC Summerlin


Webb Simpson followed up his opening 64 with an 8-under 63 to take over the leaderboard's halfway top spot in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The $6 million event began Thursday at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, who didn't get a victory last season, carded nine birdies and a bogey to reach 15-under 127, four shots ahead of Australia's John Senden (66) and Americans Jeff Overton (68), Chesson Hadley (66), J.J. Henry (71) and Jason Bohn (64).

Bohn, a two-time Tour winner, threatened to break or tie the Tour's magical score of 59, recording eight birdies through 12 holes. But the 40-year-old parred Nos. 13-15, followed by a birdie on the par-5 16th, before ending with a record-wrecking double on the par-3 17th and a par at the last.

Over two rounds Simpson has posted 16 birdies and a lone bogey in a tournament known for its near-ideal scoring conditions.

"I haven't won this year, but my one goal every year is to get better, and I felt like I got better," the 28-year-old North Carolinian told PGATour.com. "I was happy to finish the Tour Championship with a good, solid tournament. Getting better, so that's all I care about."

Hadley carded eight birdies and three bogeys. First-round leader Henry went 11 strokes higher in the second round than his first. After posting nine birdies and an eagle Thursday to establish a new course record of 11-under 60, the 38-year-old, a two-time Tour winner, carded four birdies and a like number of bogeys to stay at 11 below par heading into the weekend.

Defending champion Ryan Moore opened with a 69 but fired a stellar 63 to reach 132 along with Scotland's Russell Knox (65). Moore's winning total in last year's annual Vegas birdiefest was 24-under 260.

The cut was set at 3-under 139. Among those heading home is, surprisingly, Andres Romero, who opened with a 10-under 61 and was only a stroke behind Henry starting play Friday. But the Argentine only had one birdie against a whopping six bogeys, a double-bogey (on the par-4 sixth) and a triple (on the par-5 eighth) for a 10-over 81.

Playing in his first PGA Tour event on a sponsor's exemption, Kevin Penner - like Moore a UNLV grad - came home with a 71 and 65 to easily qualify for the final two rounds.

The winner in last week's Frys.com Open, Jimmy Walker, made the cut right on the number after rounds of 71 and 68. Also at 139 are veterans Zach Johnson and Davis Love III, who both carded 70s Friday, and Tour rookie Max Homa (69-70), who finished ninth at the Frys.com Open in his Tour debut.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html. \