Taylor Pendrith experienced a relatively smooth day amid challenging conditions at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
While the rest of the field battled strong winds that led to a four-hour delay, Pendrith only needed to complete six holes on Friday, maintaining his lead at 10 under par.
He began the tournament with an impressive 10-under 61 on Thursday, benefiting from calmer morning conditions. After four pars, a birdie, and a bogey on his short day, he held a one-shot lead over Rico Hoey, who made a notable 15-foot eagle putt on his final hole.
The day was particularly demanding for many players, including Las Vegas resident Kurt Kitayama, who managed a bogey-free 68 in gusts nearing 40 mph and chilly temperatures.
Kitayama was part of a group at 8 under that included Doug Ghim, J.J. Spaun, and Davis Thompson, all of whom completed the second round. Ghim had a challenging day, taking eight holes to register his first par and ultimately finishing with a hard-fought 70.
He remarked on the importance of patience in such conditions, stating that making par was especially valuable.
The start of Friday’s play was delayed due to gusts of up to 50 mph, prompting PGA Tour officials to prevent spectators from attending for safety reasons.
Once play resumed, golfers faced difficulties in gauging distances and managing putting due to the swirling winds. Joseph Bramlett had a particularly tough day, notably three-putting on the green after missing a 30-inch birdie putt the day before.
Greyson Sigg found the day mentally taxing, noting that shooting a 69 felt more like a 62 given the conditions. The best round of the day belonged to Pierceson Coody, who made eight birdies for a round of 65 after starting with a 72, bringing him to 5 under overall.
Pendrith observed much of the tournament from his hotel room, taking breaks between naps. When he finally teed off, he noted that while the winds had eased somewhat, strong gusts still posed a significant challenge, particularly when putting. He acknowledged the difficulty of the day, especially for those who had played earlier in the day.
As the tournament progressed, the forecast indicated that the worst of the winds would likely pass, but strong gusts were still expected on Saturday. The 36-hole cut was projected to hover between 3-under and 2-under par, adding to the pressure for players as they completed their rounds.
