Lowry the clubhouse leader at Bay Hill, McIlroy among chasing pack
Shane Lowry, of Ireland, reacts after missing a putt on the sixth green during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Pic: AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
Shane Lowry is the clubhouse leader after his second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, with Rory McIlroy in a tie for fourth.
Offaly golfer Lowry has a two-shot lead over American Wyndham Clark, who was the first round leader by two shots, with Lowry carding a five-under 67 today to reach eight-under overall.
McIlroy’s second successive round of two-under 70 sees him four shots off the lead in a tie for fourth. A closing bogey on the 18th spoiled a strong back nine, after McIlroy had made birdies on 13, 16 and 17, before dropping a shot on the final hole for the second succesive day.
After Thursday’s 69 which also featured a bogey on the last, Lowry made his mark Friday with a storming start as he birdied the 2nd and 3rd, before picking up another shot on the 7th to reach the turn in 33.
Further birdies arrived on 10 and 13, before Lowry’s only bogey of the day occurred on the par-five 16th. Yet he responded brilliantly to sink a 17-foot putt on the last for birdie.
Clark’s round of 71 sees him in second on six-under with Corey Conners in third on five-under, while McIlroy is joined by Russell Henley on four-under.
Of the later starters in the early stages of their second round, Si Woo Kim and Keegan Bradley are both on three-under, with Ludvig Aberg and Collin Morikawa on two-under.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is travelling in the wrong direction, two-over for his round after five holes.
