By TIM PRICE Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Patrick Rodgers’ three-shot lead at the Valero Texas Open remained intact when the field completed the weather-delayed second round on Saturday.
Rodgers, looking for his first PGA Tour victory and first Masters appearance, had completed rounds of 66-67 for 11-under Friday while much of the afternoon portion of the field could not finish due to darkness.
Corey Conners, the 2019 Texas Open winner, turned in rounds of 64-72 on Friday and was 8-under.
Mexico’s Roberto Diaz had reached 8-under on Saturday while playing the front at the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course as his second nine, but bogey on the par-5 8th dropped him into a tie at 7-under with two-time Tour winner Michael Thompson, Harry Higgs and Brendon Todd.
The third round will be completed under clear skies Saturday.
Thompson finished Friday with 4-under 68. On Saturday, Diaz turned in a 69, Higgs a 68 and Todd, a three-time Tour winner, finished off a 67.
“It’s something I’ve always dreamt of,” Rodgers said Friday, hoping to win in his 235th PGA Tour stop. “I’m excited for the chance. It’s going to be a really fun next couple of days.”
Rodgers birdied four of the final five holes in his second round.
Notable names making the cut included Matt Kuchar and Padraig Harrington. Both had the early lead with first-round scores of 68 when played was halted Thursday after a fog delay. Kuchar finished a 2-under 70 on Saturday and is tied for seventh at the halfway point at 6-under. Harrington finished with a 73 on Saturday and is 3-under.
The 30-year-old Rodgers starred in college at Stanford but is winless in 234 events since joining the PGA Tour in 2015.
Conners was the first-round leader, but mistakes in the middle of his round dropped him back. He four-putted his seventh hole, the par-3 16th, which included three attempts within 4 feet. His tee shot on the 17th hooked into the brush, and he took an unplayable lie, leading to bogey.
Others who made the cut include Jimmy Walker (-4), Luke Donald (-2), Rickie Fowler (-1) and former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (-2).
In addition to Rodgers, Fowler is among those who need to win in San Antonio for a final spot at the Masters next week.
