(Reuters) – Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer combined for a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 and took the halfway lead after the second round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Saturday.
Notching seven birdies in the alternate shot foursomes format, the duo posted a 15-under 129 halfway total at TPC Louisiana.
Spaniard Rahm and American Palmer led by one stroke from the teams of Rory Sabbatini and Brian Gay, and Peter Malnati and Billy Hurley III.
Sabbatini and Gay were poised to enjoy the halfway lead until they double-bogeyed their final hole, the par-three ninth, where Gay’s tee shot found the water.
Malnati and Hurley enjoyed a sleep in after completing their second round on Friday.
Half the field — 40 teams — had to return at the crack of dawn to complete the round following a long weather delay on Thursday.
The cut fell at eight-under 136. Among those to miss it were the Australian duo of Jason Day and Adam Scott, and the American partnership of Tony Finau and Kyle Stanley.
The third round, using the more forgiving fourball format, was scheduled to begin almost as soon as the second finished, getting the event back on schedule by the end of the day.
Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Ed Osmond
