Nico Echavarria’s second straight 64 on Friday put the Colombian ahead by two strokes at 12-under after two rounds at the Zozo Championship in Chiba, Japan.
Echavarria carded seven birdies and a bogey to grab the 36-hole lead for the first time on the PGA Tour. His score of 128 at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club matched the tournament’s 36-hole record set by Tiger Woods in 2019.
“I’ve never had a lead after 36 holes,” said Echavarria, who played at the University of Arkansas.
His lone win on the PGA Tour was last year at the Puerto Rico Open.
First-round leader Taylor Moore shot a 3-under 67 on Friday and is tied for second at 10-under with Justin Thomas, who capped his bogey-free 64 with an eagle at the par-5 18th hole. Thomas is looking to break a two-year winless drought.
Ireland’s Seamus Power posted the lowest round of the week with a bogey-free 62. With his career-best round on the PGA Tour, Power moved to 9-under and a three-way tie for fourth place with Eric Cole (67 on Friday) and Taiwan’s CT Pan (66).
Nico Echavarria of Colombia tees off at the 10th hole during the second round of the Zozo Championship PGA golf tournament at the Narashino Country Club in Inzai, Chiba prefecture on October 25, 2024. (Photo by Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP)