Lauren Coughlin and Andrew Novak started the day in third place, two shots behind the leaders, and produced an eagle at the par-5 17th as well as four birdies and a double bogey at the par-5 14th for a 4-under 68 in the Foursomes format to move into a one-shot lead at the Grant Thornton Invitational.
“I think we hit a lot — we just talked about we hit a lot of greens,” said Coughlin. “I don’t think we really had to chip today, which is always nice in alternate shot. You have it pretty stress free, just hit some putts and try to make birdies.
“She hit a great tee shot [at the 17th]. I was in prime position and didn’t really do much out there. Kind of left the face open. I hit it fine, on the middle of the face. Face was open, left it right. Probably not the spot to miss, but didn’t matter, she picked me up nicely there.
“You’re going out, playing a team event, having fun, making as many birdies as you can and not taking it too seriously,” he added. “Trying to hit the best shots you can. You’re going through your process. It is a little bit like a normal tournament in that you’re doing the best you can, but I think the team aspect just adds a little fun to it.”
Their 36-hole total of 125 falls one shy of the tournament 36-hole scoring record (124: Lydia Ko/Jason Day/2023, Patty Tavatanakit/Jake Knapp/2024).
Novak finished No. 25 in the 2025 FedExCup standings after posting six top-10 finishes in 27 starts, led by a victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (with teammate Ben Griffin).
Coughlin, a two-time winner on the LPGA, had five top-10 finishes in 22 starts this season.
Overnight co-leader Charley Hull and Michael Brennan signed for a 71 having made four birdies and three bogeys and moved down into second place at 18-under.
Lexi Thompson and Wyndham Clark, who shared the overnight lead, made two birdies and two bogeys in the second round to move down into third place at 17-under.
Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners fired seven birdies and two bogeys and posted the round of the day with a 5-under 67 for a share of fourth place at 16-under.
*
The Grant Thornton Invitational is a three-round 54-hole stroke-play event with 16 teams of two. R1/Scramble, R2/Foursomes, R3/Modified Four-Ball.
It is a mixed team event featuring players from the PGA and LPGA Tours.
Related: New 18 Hole Course to open in Dalaman, Turkey
| Pos. | Player | To Par | R1 | R2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coughlin / Novak | -19 | 57 | 68 | 125 |
| 2 | Hull / Brennan | -18 | 55 | 71 | 126 |
| 3 | Thompson / Clark | -17 | 55 | 72 | 127 |
| T4 | Henderson / Conners | -16 | 61 | 67 | 128 |
| T4 | Kupcho / Gotterup | -16 | 58 | 70 | 128 |
| T4 | Korda / McCarthy | -16 | 58 | 70 | 128 |
| T4 | Zhang / Kim | -16 | 58 | 70 | 128 |
| 8 | Yin / Hoge | -14 | 60 | 70 | 130 |
| T9 | Woad / Clanton | -12 | 63 | 69 | 132 |
| T9 | Ko / Day | -12 | 60 | 72 | 132 |
| T11 | Khang / Mitchell | -11 | 64 | 69 | 133 |
| T11 | Vu / Finau | -11 | 61 | 72 | 133 |
| T11 | Tavatanakit / Knapp | -11 | 59 | 74 | 133 |
| T14 | Stark / Shipley | -10 | 62 | 72 | 134 |
| T14 | Lee / Horschel | -10 | 61 | 73 | 134 |
| 16 | Korda / Cauley | -8 | 62 | 74 | 136 |
