Patrick Rodgers fired a 7-under-par 64 on Friday to take a two-shot
lead after the second round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere
Run in Silvis, Ill.
Rodgers, who started on the back nine, had five birdies over a
seven-hole stretch on the front nine before closing with his only
bogey of the day to finish at 13-under 129.
"It was nice to keep making birdies and keep the gas pedal down,"
Rodgers said. "It was tricky this afternoon with some breeze, but I
know 13-under is not going to win the golf tournament, so I got to
keep that same mindset for the next two rounds."
Bryson DeChambeau was second (131) after shooting a 65 that
included eight birdies and two bogeys.
Zach Johnson, the 2012 John Deere Classic champion who hails from
nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had a 67 and is tied with Charles Howell
III, the co-leader after the first round, at 10 under.
After opening with a 63, Howell shot 69 on Friday. He parred the
first nine holes before picking up three birdies and a bogey.
"We had a little bit of a breeze out there today," Howell said. "I
can't believe the temperatures. Usually it's 100 degrees here in
Moline in July. It was a great day. We just really didn't get much
going until the very end there."
Kevin Tway (63), Chesson Hadley (64), Chad Campbell (68) and J.J.
Henry (64) were at 9 under. Tway fired the low round of the day and
had stretch of seven birdies in a row.
"I was kind of hoping it would never stop, but it did," Tway said.
"I missed a short putt on 6. Yeah, just a lot of the long putts
made and a lot of good shots being close. Some were easy and some
were good putts."
First-round co-leader Ollie Schniederjans shot a 3-over 74 and was
tied for 29th (137).
Bubba Watson and Davis Love III (139) were tied for 55th, and
three-time John Deere Classic champion Steve Stricker (140) was
tied for 70th.