Putnam Takes Over Top Spot in OHL Classic at Mayakoba


Michael Putnam followed up his opening 5-under 66 with a 64 to assume the halfway lead in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. The $6.1 million event got underway Thursday at the El Cameleon course at Playa del Carmen, located just south of Cancun in Mexico.

After posting six birdies and a bogey Thursday, the 31-year-old from Tacoma tacked on seven more birdies to reach 12-under 130, a stroke ahead of fellow Americans Shawn Stefani and Jason Bohn, who each carded 65s.

Putnam, whose younger brother Andrew also plays on the PGA Tour, has earned and lost his card twice. He earned a third spot this year after winning twice on the Web.com Tour in 2013 and ending up as the developmental circuit's leading money winner.

Putnam is pleased with his play so far. "I've kept the ball in play really well," he told reporters. "It's a tight golf course and got to keep it between the trees. After that, I've hit a lot of greens and made a lot of two-putts. I did make about a 10-footer for par on 16 - probably the hardest hole on the course. Other than that, it was a pretty easy bogey-free round."

Stefani, like Putnam still searching for his first Tour title, is also happy with how his game is coming around. "I've been hitting the ball really well for quite some time now," said the 32-year-old Texan. "The last few days really have been a credit to my putter. I kind of figured something out on Wednesday and just kind of focused on that."

Trailing Putnam by two is Ken Duke, who fired the tournament's low round so far - an eight-birdie 63, while three back are Czech-German Alex Cejka (67), Canada's David Hearn (65) and Americans Nicholas Thompson (65) and Will MacKenzie (68).

Six players - MacKenzie, Robert Garrigus, Steve Wheatcroft, Hudson Swafford, Tony Finau and Daniel Berger - began Friday sharing the lead following opening 65s.

Tied for ninth are Jason Gore (66), Brice Garnett (68), Daniel Summerhays (65), Charley Hoffman (68), Fred Funk (65), Blayne Barber (68) and Wheatcroft (69).

Garrigus and Swafford each had a 73 to drop into a tie for 47th at 138, the same total as defending champion Harris English, who shot 71. Finau had a 72 and is at 137 and Berger a 74 to get to 139.

Despite bogeys on the last two holes, Berger made the 36-hole cut of 3-under right on the number. Also qualifying for the weekend is Nick Taylor, the winner in last week's Sanderson Farms Championship. Taylor has posted rounds of 71 and 68.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.