Patrick Fishburn signed for a bogey-free 65 to take a share of the lead at 10-under at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
“Got off to a really good start,” said the American. “I birdied 12, 13, and 14, which I was really excited about the birdie on 13. That’s a pretty tricky hole. Hit a 6-iron to about six or seven feet and made that.
“Then another good shot on 14. That was kind was the key, getting some momentum early. Felt really good with all the clubs in the bag. Felt like I drove the ball pretty well. Irons felt great. The times that I missed the green I got up and down. Chipped one of them in. Also felt good on the greens.
“So real happy with how it’s gone the last two days.”
Fishburn is playing in his 28th PGA Tour event and holds his first career 36-hole lead/co-lead with his low 36-hole score on Tour (130). His best finish so far was third place at the 2024 Barracuda Championship and 2024 Procore Championship.
American Denny McCarthy carded a 66 having made back-to-back birdies at the 2nd and 3rd to tie for the lead.
“I played really well. I played better than yesterday I think tee to green,” said McCarthy. “Hit way more fairways today. Missed a lot of short putts, but I guess made up for it. Made a couple longer bonus putts. Made a couple each day.
“Tthe greens in the afternoon were a little choppy. I didn’t love how I rolled it in close. Overall I played really well and looking forward to the weekend.”
He has finished runner-up twice, at the 2023 Memorial Tournament and 2024 Valero Texas Open and seeks his first PGA Tour win in his 191st start
McCarthy, who was one of six 18-hole co-leaders after the first round, holds his third career 36-hole leads/co-leads.
Japan’s Kensei Hirata made a single bogey but closed with a 7-under 63, the low round of the day and his career-low 18-hole score on Tour, to move into a share of third place at 9-under. His 131 total is also his low 36-hole score on Tour.
Hirata closed with a 64 to finish T8 at PGA Tour Q-School in December, two strokes out of earning a 2025 PGA Tour card (top five and ties) and is in the field as one of three designated sponsor exemptions.
Eric Cole made three bogeys and a double bogey at the par-3 7th for a 67 to move down into a share of third place alongside his fellow American and overnight co-leader Paul Peterson who shot four birdies and a bogey for his own 67.
Peterson is playing in his fourth start following victory at the 2024 Simmons Bank Open and and clinching his 2025 PGA Tour card via the season-long Korn Ferry Tour Points List. His 131 total is his low 36-hole score on Tour.
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The Sony Open in Hawaii, the second event of the 2025 PGA Tour Season and first Full-Field event, marks the first opportunity for players to earn FedExCup points towards the Aon Swing 5.
The Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 are eligibility pathways for players, not already qualified, to play their way into Signature Events via the FedExCup standings.
The top five players, not otherwise exempt, who earn the most FedExCup points during the Sony Open in Hawaii, The American Express and Farmers Insurance Open will qualify for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, while the top five players not otherwise exempt who earn the most FedExCup points during those three events and the WM Phoenix Open, will qualify for The Genesis Invitational.
The Aon Next 10 for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational was determined through the 2024 FedExCup Fall standings.
