Kirk on Top at McGladrey Classic


Chris Kirk fired his second straight 4-under 66 to take over the top spot in the McGladrey Classic. The $5.5 million PGA Tour event is taking place on the Seaside Course at Sea Island, Ga.

The 28-year-old Kirk, with one victory - the 2011 Viking Classic - in his career, carded six birdies and a pair of bogeys to reach 8-under 132, a stroke ahead of fellow American Kevin Chappell, who followed up his opening 65 with a 68, Briny Baird (70), Webb Simpson (68) and Australian John Senden (67).

For the second day in a row not all the players finished their rounds, due to darkness. Because 50 players needed to complete their first rounds Friday morning, there wasn't enough daylight for a couple dozen players to finish their second rounds.

Those will be completed Saturday morning prior to the start of the third round. Because of that, the 36-hole cut - currently at 1-over 141 - will be set before the third round.

Chappell, for one, was pleased with how he performed on a blustery day. The 27-year-old from Fresno certainly had a colorful scorecard, one that listed four birdies, an eagle on the par-5 15th, two bogeys, and a double on the par-3 third. "Any time you judge the wind correctly and you hit some iron shots close, I think there's some luck involved," he told PGATour.com.

"I hit two perfect shots on that par 5, 15, and you know, I made a 25 footer down the hill (for eagle). It was kind of sitting on the right edge and the wind blows and the ball falls in the hole. That's lucky."

Simpson also managed to cope with the conditions, posting three birdies and a bogey Friday. "Before I played I would take anything under par," the 2012 U.S. Open champion and winner of last month's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open told PGATour.com. "I think the game plan before the round (was to know) club selection so you don't get to a hole and you're shocked and you don't know what to do. That was big for us."

Two strokes behind Kirk are Jason Kokrak (65), Scott Brown (68), Ted Potter, Jr. (67) and South African Tim Clark, who shot his second straight 67.

Three back at 135 are Brian Harman (68), Matt Every (68), Brian Gay (72) and Jonathan Byrd (69). Also at 5-under is Seung-Yul Noh, but the South Korean still has four holes to go to finish his second round.

After opening with an 8-under 62 to take the 18-hole lead, George McNeill ballooned to a 6-over 76 on Friday. His undoing came when he bogeyed the first five holes on the back nine, carding seven on the day against just one birdie.

Jerry Kelly and Kris Blanks both withdrew from the tournament after finishing their opening rounds Friday morning. Kelly, who shot a 75, cited a back injury, while Blanks, who had a 74, withdrew because of a bad shoulder that gave him problems last year.

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