Round 2 notebook: Sony Open in Hawaii

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HONOLULU -- Ryan Palmer birdied three of his last four holes to post a 4-under 66, moving out of a six-way tie for the 18-hole lead and into solo possession of the lead after two rounds of the Sony Open in Hawaii. At 9-under 131, he holds a one-stroke lead over defending champion Zach Johnson (67), Chad Campbell (64) and Robert Allenby (67).

• Palmer's only previous 36-hole lead on the PGA TOUR led to victory at the 2008 Ginn sur Mer Classic.

• Palmer is making his fifth career start at the Sony Open in Hawaii (T64-2004, T28-2005, MC-2006, MC-2007).

• The cut came at 1-over-par 141 with 80 players advancing to the weekend. With more than 78 players making the cut, a 54-hole cut will take place on Saturday, reducing the field to the low 70 and ties.

RELATED LINKS

Leaderboard: Round 2
Round 3 tee times
Scorecard: Ryan Palmer
Interview transcripts
Photos: Round 2
Notebook: Round 2

• 2005 Sony Open champion Vijay Singh (69-72) eagled the par-5 18th hole to make the cut on the number.

• All four players making their first-career start on TOUR made the cut this week: Blake Adams (69-67/T18), Troy Merritt (65-71/T18), Brian Stuard (66-73/T40) and Jerod Turner (71-69/T59).

• Johnson, who entered the day in a six-way tie for the lead, moved to 8-under through seven holes before a triple-bogey on the par-3 17th hole and a bogey on the par-4 first hole derailed his momentum temporarily. He rebounded with five birdies on his last eight holes (Nos. 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9) to pull within one of the lead.

• Allenby, a four-time TOUR winner, is making his ninth start at the Sony Open, with top-10 finishes in 2003 (T4) and 2007 (T8).

• Campbell is making his eighth start at the Sony Open, with a runner-up finish in 2006 his best outing. He shared the 54-hole lead with David Toms that season, but a final-round, even-par 70 left him five behind Toms.

• Steve Stricker, the highest ranked player in the field (No. 3), carded a 3-under 67 to move within two shots of Palmer's lead. He is no stranger to success at Waialae, tallying six top-15 finishes in 10 previous starts, including a solo-third place finish in 1996, T4s in 2007 and 2008, T7 in 1998 and T14s in 1994 and 2000. In 40 rounds, he has failed to produce a score of par or better just five times.

• The round of the day was turned in by 2007 Sony Open champion Paul Goydos with a bogey-free 7-under 63. It helped propel the 45-year-old native of Long Beach, Clif., 73 spots up the leaderboard to T12.

• Past champions of the Sony Open: Johnson (T2), K.J. Choi (T70), Goydos (T12), Toms (T40), Singh (T70), Ernie Els (T40), Jerry Kelly (WD), Brad Faxon (MC), John Huston (MC) and Corey Pavin (T32).

• Two-time Sony Open in Hawaii champion Els (69-70) has now posted par-or-better scores in 24 of 26 rounds at the Sony Open -- including 22 rounds in the 60s. He is seeking his sixth top-5 finish in seven appearances at the tournament (5th-2000, 3rd-2001, 1st-2003, 1st-2004, 2nd-2005, T39-2009).

• Here is a look at the scores for all 16 rookies in the field this week: Adams (69-67/T18), Chris Baryla (70-75/MC), Graham DeLaet (69-67/T18), Martin Flores (66-74/T59), Rickie Fowler (75-72/MC), Billy Horschel (76-68/MC), Derek Lamely (73-71/MC), Troy Merritt (65-71/T18), Garth Mulroy (75-69/MC), Cameron Percy (72-70/MC), Alex Prugh (74-67/T70), Stuard (66-73/T40), Josh Teater (71-74/MC), Cameron Tringale (71-71/MC), Turner (71-69/T59) and Chris Wilson (71-72/MC).

• The par-3 fourth hole played the toughest on Friday, yielding a 3.303 average. The par-5 ninth hole was the easiest at 4.444.

• Tim Wilkinson withdrew after eight holes with a collarbone injury. Jerry Kelly withdrew on the 12th hole with a dislocation of the sacroiliac joint.