Jhonattan Vegas’ lead cut to 3 strokes in rainy Alabama

Michael Johnson, a former player at Auburn University making his pro debut, carded a 65 for sole possession of third place on 132, one shot in front of a group of six players on 133.

“You have to celebrate a round like this”, Vegas said. The Venezuelan Olympic qualifier pumped his fist after finishing with a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth on Grand National’s Lake Course. I ended one shot away from 59 but I’m still pleased with a 60.

“It just makes it tougher for me because when I got 200-yard shots into tucked pins and guys have 150-yard shots into tucked pins then it’s hard for me to beat them”, Toms said.

“It was just a great feeling, seeing that ball go in”, he added.

Kyle Reifers, Roberto Castro, Tim Herron, Andres Gonzales, Chesson Hadley and former major champion David Toms are tied for fourth at -9.

He made the turn at eight-under 28 and despite a lone bogey on his second nine he closed with two more birdies for his 60, rolling in a 20-footer at his penultimate hole before coaxing home a 10-footer at the last for a 17-under 125 total.

“Yesterday was way better”, Kim said through a translator.

“When somebody does that”, said Michael Thompson, whose 7-under round moved him to 6-under for the tournament, “I want to say it nearly kind of takes a little bit of pressure off because you know like it’s going to be nearly impossible to catch him unless he does something really stupid”. “Momentum got thrown off a little bit there with the rain delay, but I’m still pleased with the way I finished and put myself in a good position for tomorrow”.

Lydia Ko shot a 5-under 66 in windy conditions Friday for a share of the Marathon Classic lead with Hyo Joo Kim.

Ariya Jutanugarn, the long-hitting Thai player who won three straight events in May, was a stroke back at 67 along with American Kelly Shon and France’s Celine Herbin.

The top-ranked Ko had six birdies and one bogey at Highland Meadows to match Kim at 8-under 134. The 19-year-old New Zealander tied for third last week in the U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle.