Americans Charley Hoffman and Ryan Palmer didn’t slow down like most of the rest of the field, and they retained the reins of the QBE Shootout tournament on Saturday in Naples, Florida.
The modified formula with alternating shots, used in the second round, was much less lenient than that of the “scramble”, favored on Friday.
Each of the 12 pairs participating in this exhibition event had managed to subtract at least 10 hits from par in the first 18 pennants. Saturday, they were only four to have achieved such a feat of arms, and they all find themselves at the top of the ranking.
Leading the way, Hoffman and Palmer scored 10 birdies to find themselves at -26. Thanks to an eagle on the 17th hole, their compatriots Sahith Theegala and Tom Hoge delivered a second consecutive card of 60 (-12) to take second place.
The day was particularly difficult for the only Canadian in the running, Corey Conners, and his playing partner, the South Korean KH Lee. They fell back from second to seventh echelon, unable to snag more than four hits from par. With a cumulative score of -18, they will have to multiply their miracles to erase the eight strokes that separate them from the leaders.