Reed Red-Hot in La Quinta


After firing a 9-under 63 Thursday on the Palmer Private course to take a one-stroke lead in the Humana Challenge, Patrick Reed carded the same score Friday at La Quinta Country Club - considered the toughest of the three courses (the other is Nicklaus Private) used for the $5.7 million PGA Tour event in La Quinta, Calif.

After going out with nine birdies in the first round, the 23-year-old Texan carded an eagle, eight birdies and his first bogey of the tournament on the par-4 second hole en route to his second straight 9-under round.

Reed stands at 18-under 126, two strokes ahead if Brendon Todd (63, Palmer) and three in front of Ryan Palmer (65, La Quinta).

Another stroke back is 2007 Humana winner Charley Hoffman (66 at Nicklaus), and five behind Reed are Bill Haas (66 Nicklaus) and James Driscoll (63 La Quinta). Sharing seventh at 133 are Matt Every, Will MacKenzie, Justin Leonard, Matt Jones, Daniel Summerhays, Harris English and Brian Stuard.

Defending champion Brian Gay followed up his opening 69 at La Quinta with a 71 at Nicklaus. Last year Gay went 25-under and won a sudden-death playoff against Charles Howell III and David Lingmerth.

The shot of the day came when Keegan Bradley got a hole-in-one on the 180-yard, par-3 third at the Nicklaus course.

The cut will be made after Saturday's third round with the low-70 players and ties moving on to the final round at Palmer Private.

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