PGA Tour rookie Carson Young tied the 36-hole tournament record of 14-under 130 after closing with a 67 on Friday in a bid for a first victory in his 14th start.
"I'm pleased with how I finished out. I didn't quite have it like I did yesterday obviously, but it was still good. My tee shots weren't quite the way I wanted them today, I got into trouble a good bit, but my short game really saved me today. I holed a bunker shot and had a bunch of really good par saves today that really got me going. Just hope the putter stays hot and get that driver sorted out the next couple days and I should be in good shape."
On FIRE 🔥
Carson Young from the bunker to extend his lead to 4 @PuertoRicoOpen 💪 pic.twitter.com/tTkaKK8WoZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2023
Fellow American Paul Haley II closed with a 66 to move into a share of second place at 10-under alongside Colombia's Nico Echavarria (67).
"Finally been putting better. I worked on it really hard the last three days a couple hours a day. I've been hitting the ball pretty good all year and since I guess the Sony Open I just kind of had, I've been three-putting a bunch, missing a lot of short putts, but that's kind of the only thing that hasn't been clicking for me. Generally that's like the best part of my game, so that's really been the only difference. Drove it good, obviously doing everything pretty good and just seeing some putts go in has been the difference," said Haley.
"It's been frustrating just because it's like one day I'll putt good and the next day I won't make anything. This is the first time in a while where I've had two really
good days in a row of good putting. I've been working really hard on my speed and trying to get out of, I guess, the result of the putt and if I'm around the hole, I'm counting that it's a win so far. And luckily I've made a bunch of putts so far, so it's been good."
In solo fourth place at 9-under, American Harry Higgs scored a 64 tying Harry Hall for low round of the day.
9 birdies and the round of the day 👏 @HarryHiggs1991 went LOW @PuertoRicoOpen. pic.twitter.com/GTfgSeAyPP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 4, 2023
For the second week in a row, Ryan Gerard heads into the third round inside the top-5 after recording a 67. With a win this week, he would qualify for next week's Players Championship and be exempt on the PGA Tour through the 2024-25 season. With any finish between 2nd and 3-way T9, he would becomes eligible for Special Temporary Membership for the remainder of the season, allowing him to accept unlimited sponsor exemptions. A top-10, would qualify him for the Valspar Championship.
"I feel like the last week and a half has been just a rollercoaster. I mean, just not really knowing what I'm getting into, playing well, quick turnaround, flying, it's
been really cool. So I think I'm just - I know I'm just lucky to be here and I know I'm playing well. I think I just take those two things in stride and just go have fun with it this weekend. I mean, if I keep playing well, I'll be just fine," he said.
Tied alongside Gerard in fifth place at 8-under are fellow Americans Bill Haas (69), Nate Lashley (65), Hank Lebioda (66) and Michael Kim (66) as well as England's Harry Hall (64).
At 4-under 140, Rafael Campos (T34) is the lone Puerto Rico native (of five in the field) to make the cut.
