Fred Couples and Spain’s Miguel Jimenez hit matching 7-under-par 64s Saturday to forge a two-way tie atop the leaderboard through two rounds at the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, Calif.
The pair finished 11 under through two rounds and took a one-stroke lead over Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson, who for the second straight round finished the day one shot off the lead.
“I got off to a red-hot start, and then got a little bit scruffy, but then I finished strong with a few birdies at the end to get myself up there and a battle tomorrow with Miguel and whoever finishes up there with us,” Couples said.
Jimenez got off to a great start at Newport Beach Country Club with three birdies over four holes, then repeated that feat with birdies on Nos. 15, 16 and 18 to close his round.
In between, he avoided any poor holes and notched an additional birdie on No. 9.
Couples managed five birdies over his first eight holes to get to 5 under for the round, and he also finished strong with three straight birdies from 15-17, but a bogey on the par-4 No. 14 prevented him from taking sole possession of first.
“I thought the putt on 14 was so fast, and I kind of mis-hit it out of the first cut, and it just hit 15 feet short,” Couples said. “Other than that, I putted well. I got it around well, and I hit a few good drives at the end, so at least I’ve got confidence for tomorrow.”
Jacobson shot a 4-under 67 to get to 10 under for the tournament. He paired six birdies with a double bogey on the par-3 No. 13.
Michael Allen is alone in fourth place after shooting a 3-under 68, putting him at 9-under for the tourney.
“Everything is within striking distance,” Allen said. “I have to play very well. (Couples and Jimenez) are not going to come back very much, I can tell you that. I have to go out and play awfully well.”
Allen is sitting a stroke ahead of five golfers deadlocked in a tie for fifth at 8 under: Jason Caron (65), Stewart Cink (66), New Zealand’s Steven Alker (67), South Korea’s Y.E. Yang (67) and South Africa’s Ernie Els (68).
Australia’s Brendan Jones, the first-day leader, fell into a tie for 10th place with five other golfers at 7 under after shooting a second-day 71.
