Two atop Puerto Rico Open


A pair of Americans, Scott Brown and Chris Smith, are the new co-leaders at the Puerto Rico Open. The $3 million PGA Tour event, being played concurrently with the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami, is taking place at Trump International Golf Club.

Brown, a 31-year-old from Augusta, Ga., carded five birdies for a 67 to reach 6-under 210, the same number as Smith. Brown's only win came in this tournament in 2013.

Smith, a 45-year-old from Indianapolis whose only Tour title came at the 2002 Buick Classic, had six birdies and two bogeys for a 68.

Smith's story is one of overcoming tragedy. His wife was killed in a 2009 car accident that also critically injured his two children. Understandably, his focus has been elsewhere the past four years.

"I'm starting to get comfortable playing golf again, which is nice, and it's fun," Smith told reporters. "All three days have been fun. I'm just trying to keep taking steps. I feel like I'm taking steps."

Smith is playing this week as a past champion, and he hopes to take advantage of the opportunity. Thanks to the tournament underway in Miami, he's able to get a rare spot in a Tour event. "It's one of the only weeks of the year that I know I'm going to get in, so I can kind of mentally prepare for playing for it," he said.

"When I get here, it's not like getting in Tuesday night and then trying to hustle to the tournament and then playing.," added Smith, who has remarried and whose children have recovered.

Brown said he took advantage of the calmer conditions at a course that has been windswept the first two rounds. "The wind died just a bit for us this afternoon. Putting has been tough early in the week with the wind blowing as hard as it's been. It's still blowing around a little bit, tough to get it close."

Trailing by a stroke heading into Sunday are Tour rookie Jon Curran (70) and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo (72). Just two behind are Canada's Adam Hadwin (68), Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti (69), American Scott Pinckney (71), Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge (71) and Czech Alex Cejka.

Cejka began Saturday with a one-stroke lead over American Brandon Hagy, but the 44-year-old dropped out of the top spot following a 75. Hagy also struggled, posting a 6-over 78 to drop into a tie for 37th at even-par 216.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/puerto-rico-open/leaderboard.html.