Mexico City – Harris English closed with back-to-back birdies, the last of them a 25-foot chip-in to seize a one-stroke lead after Saturday’s second round of the PGA Mayakoba Classic.
English fired a bogey-free seven-under par 64 at Playa del Carmen, Mexico, to stand on 13-under 129 after 36 holes with Vaughn Taylor second on 130 and Brendon Todd another stroke adrift.
“Might have missed two greens today,” English said. “Just hit it well. Iron game was on. Wedge game was on and I got hot with the putter a little bit. It was awesome.
“I feel like if I keep playing like this, I’m in a good spot.”
All play Thursday was washed out by rain so those making the cut will try to complete 36 holes on Sunday but are faced with a likely Monday finish.
English seeks his third tour title and the first since he won the 2013 Mayakoba Classic by four strokes over compatriot Brian Stuard.
The American has produced three top-six finishes in four starts during the beginning of the 2019-20 USPGA campaign, sharing third at the Greenbrier and sixth at the Sanderson Farms Championship in September and fourth at last month’s Houston Open.
English made three birdies in a row between the second and fourth holes, added another at the sixth and began the back nine with another at the par-3 10th.
That set the stage for his closing birdies at 17 and 18, the latter from just off the green.
“I was just trying to shove it up there close and it went in,” English said. “When you get one to go in like that, it’s icing on the cake.”
New Zealand’s Danny Lee, who opened with a 62 for the 18-hole lead, was sharing fourth on 132 with Adam Long and Robby Shelton.
Scores after Saturday’s second round of the rain-hit US PGA Mayakoba
Classic from Playa del Carmen, Mexico (par 71, USA unless noted):
129 – Harris English 65-64
130 – Vaughn Taylor 64-66
131 – Brendon Todd 63-68
132 – Danny Lee (NZL) 62-70, Adam Long 63-69, Robby Shelton 66-66
133 – Alvaro Ortiz (MEX) 66-67, Chris Baker 64-69, Pat Perez 68-65
134 – Zach Johnson 64-70, Carlos Ortiz (MEX) 69-65
135
– Mark Hubbard 64-71, Bo Hoag 66-69, Dylan Frittelli (RSA) 66-69,
Robert Streb 71-64, Scottie Scheffler 66-69, Calum Hill (SCO) 69-66
136 – Chez Reavie 66-70, Chris Stroud 66-70, Ben Martin 67-69, Billy Horschel 65-71, Scott Piercy 70-66
137
– Nick Taylor (CAN) 67-70, Harold Varner 68-69, Brandon Wu 68-69, Aaron
Baddeley (AUS) 70-67, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 70-67, Graeme McDowell
(NIR) 66-71, Matt Kuchar 69-68, Chase Seiffert 68-69
Nice finish, @Harris_English. ??
Will Gordon goes over the stands. ?? @carlosortizGolf and @BolaOrtiz15 were impressive. ????@aLongShot‘s birdie streak. ??????????The Takeaway. pic.twitter.com/Ji2s7dj6qV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 17, 2019
