(Photo credit score: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 4-under-par 69 within the second spherical on Friday to vault right into a share of the lead on the Trophy Hassan II in Rabat, Morocco.
The Spaniard collected six birdies towards two bogeys to tug right into a tie with Steven Alker of New Zealand at 7-under 139 within the PGA Tour Champions occasion at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
Jimenez is in search of his 14th profession win on the Champions Tour and first for the reason that 2022 Boeing Classic.
“I would love to (win),” Jimenez mentioned. “It’s another spherical, Steve’s enjoying very effectively. I performed with him yesterday, he is a really stable participant. A number of guys there, Carlos additionally received final yr right here. OK, I’ve been enjoying effectively, I’ve to deal with myself and let something occurs.
“… I’ve been hitting solid and playing very well and I hope tomorrow I can finish up there.”
Alker, who’s bidding for his ninth profession Champions Tour victory, shared the first-round lead with Englishman Simon Griffiths.
On Friday, Alker had three bogeys to offset three birdies on the entrance 9 earlier than carding three extra birdies to shut his spherical. The reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner completed with a 70 and joined Jimenez with a two-stroke lead over Tim O’Neal (71 on Friday).
“Yeah, I had a little bit of a slow start; I was 2 over after four,” Alker mentioned. “Just had to get going, give myself a bit of a kick in the butt. Then got it going, made a bunch of birdies kind of through the middle there. And again, strong finish, par on 18. Would have liked to have made birdie but pleased with the day the way I started.”
Griffiths plummeted right into a tie for twenty fourth place after carding a 77 on Friday.
Defending champion Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina, who set a 54-hole document (209) on the course in 2024, shot a 3-under 70 on Friday to maneuver into fourth place at 4-under. He sits one shot forward of a nine-golfer contingent that features South African Ernie Els, who received the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai final month.
Els, who entered the week atop the Schwab Cup standings, carded a 71 on Friday,
Angel Cabrera of Argentina shot a 68 within the second spherical to reside at 3-under with South Korea’s Okay.J. Choi (69), Justin Leonard (70), Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (70), Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn (71), Australia’s Greg Chalmers (71), Stewart Cink (72) and Adilson da Silva of Brazil.
–Field Level Media