Duncan fires 61 to seize RSM Classic halfway lead

Tyler Duncan plays his shot from the sixth tee during the second round of A Military Tribute At The Greenbrier held at the Old White TPC course on 13 September 2019 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. (AFP)

Tyler Duncan holed out from the fairway for an eagle on the way to a nine-under-par 61 on Friday and two-shot second-round lead in the US PGA Tour RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia.

Duncan’s career-best round featured seven birdies, including four in the space of five holes from the second through the sixth on the par-70 Seaside Course, in use this week along with the par-72 Plantation Course.

But the highlight of his day came at the par-four eighth, where his tee shot left in the fairway 106 yards from the hole and his high-arching second shot found the cup.

Duncan’s 14-under par total of 128 put him two strokes ahead of Colombian Sebastian Munoz, Australian Rhein Gibson, and American D.J. Trahan.

“I made a lot of putts, a lot of straight-ish putts, which I struggled with a little bit and we’ve been working on that a ton,” Duncan said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had back-to-back rounds with no bogeys, so I’m happy to have that, for sure.

“And 61 I think is probably my lowest in competition, so very happy with that as well,” added Duncan, whose previous career-low was 63 — achieved twice.

Munoz, winner of the Sanderson Farms Championship in September, posted a seven-under 63 on the Seaside Course where Gibson posted a 64. Trahan notched a nine-under 63 on the Plantation Course.

It was a further stroke back to American Ricky Barnes and Argentina’s Fabian Gomez on 131. Barnes carded a 63 on the Plantation Course and Gomez a 63 at Seaside.

Duncan, who returned to the PGA Tour this season courtesy of a 25th-place finish on the Korn Ferry Tour priority ranking, is seeking his first PGA Tour title.

He has led or shared the lead on tour twice before — after each of the first three rounds of the 2017 Safeway Open, where he finished tied for fifth.