Cejka Takes Over First at Puerto Rico Open


Alex Cejka rose to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway point of the Puerto Rico Open. The $3 million PGA Tour event, being played concurrently with the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami, got underway Thursday at Trump International Golf Club.

The 44-year Czech began play on the 10th tee during another windy day. After two birdies on his front nine, the four-time European Tour winner birdied three of his final five holes to reach 7-under 137, a stroke ahead of American Brandon Hagy, who also shot 67.

Cejka said that, despite the blustery conditions, he's comfortable on the course. "I like it here," Cejka said. "I've been coming here for a lot of years. ... My short game is great. I make a lot of putts when I need to and I'm in a great position right now.

"It's windy all day long," Cejka remarked. "Sometimes it gusts a little bit more, sometimes a little bit less. But it's a consistent wind, and since we got here on Monday or Tuesday, all these players, it's been the same. Same direction, same kind of strengths of the wind, so you can adapt to the wind condition."

Argentina's Emiliano Grillo followed up his opening 67 with a 70 and is two strokes back, while trailing by four are Americans Jonathan Byrd (71), defending champion Chesson Hadley (70), Scott Pinkney (71), Jon Curran (71) and Glen Day (68), Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge (70) and Australia's Rod Pampling (71).

Hagy, a recent graduate of Cal playing in only his third PGA tour event, was also pleased with his performance. "I played well today, controlled my ball, which you have to," he said. "It's very windy out there. I just kind of tried to let it go and hit good golf shots. It was a good day."

The 36-hole cut was set at 2-over 146. Among the players qualifying for the weekend is David Duval, who shot rounds of 70 and 74. The former No. 1, who now works as an analyst on the Golf Channel, hasn't won on the Tour since the 2001 Open Championship.

First-round leader Mark Hubbard dropped into a tie for 11th with nine others at 2-under 142 following a 74.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/tournaments/puerto-rico-open/leaderboard.html.