GREENSBORO, N.C. — Cameron Young made two straight birdies to maneuver forward of defending champion Aaron Rai after which stuffed his tee shot on the par-3 sixteenth into 6 toes when storm clouds gathered and halted play Friday within the Wyndham Championship.
The second spherical was to renew at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, and the third spherical can be performed in threesomes beginning on each nines at Sedgefield Nation Membership.
Younger is taken into account among the many greatest gamers to haven’t gained on a significant tour, twice contending into the ultimate hour of main championships. He has seven runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour, together with the British Open at St. Andrews.
Younger was at 14-under par. Rai, who gained his first PGA Tour title a yr in the past on the Wyndham Championship, was at 13 underneath and had simply missed the inexperienced to the left on No. 14.
Mac Meissner had a 7-under 63 and Sungjae Im shot 64 to put up at 12-under 128 from the morning spherical. Mark Hubbard shot a 66 and was one other shot behind. Hubbard wants at the very least a three-way tie for second to advance to the postseason.
The Wyndham Championship is the ultimate match within the common season, with the highest 70 advancing to the profitable postseason.
The 36-hole minimize was shaping as much as be 4 underneath — presumably 3 underneath if scores received worse when the spherical resumed Saturday — and that meant some seasons have been over for gamers like Adam Hadwin and Zach Johnson.
Max Homa was at 1 underneath with 5 holes to play and in dire want of birdies after which a giant weekend to keep away from lacking the playoffs.
Adam Scott, at No. 85 within the FedEx Cup, was at 4 underneath and enjoying the fifteenth gap.
Younger has no such considerations at No. 40 within the FedEx Cup. He’s enjoying Greensboro — he earned an economics diploma at Wake Forest — to construct on formidable objectives forward of him. That begins with attending to the Tour Championship and choosing up as many factors as he can for Ryder Cup consideration.
Younger grew up in New York — his father was the longtime head professional at Sleepy Hole — and he had this Ryder Cup circled for the reason that PGA of America introduced it was going to Bethpage Black on Lengthy Island.
Even with a win this week, Younger might solely transfer as excessive as No. 15 within the standings. The highest six routinely qualify in three weeks, after the BMW Championship.
“For me it isn’t essentially about this week. I’ve received a aim. In the course of September I might prefer to be in New York enjoying on that Ryder Cup workforce,” Younger mentioned. “If I can obtain that, I can obtain loads of issues over these subsequent 4 weeks. So I am attempting to maintain that in thoughts relatively than the little issues alongside the way in which.
“Not that successful a match right here can be little, however I feel for me sort of trying off within the distance in that approach I feel will assist me simply preserve attempting to belief what I am doing and construct some confidence alongside the way in which.”
Meissner is at No. 152 and must win to advance. Additionally at stake is ending within the high 100 on the finish of the autumn occasions to maintain his card.
Gary Woodland delivered the shot of the day, a 7-iron on the par-5 fifth gap that went in for a uncommon albatross 2. He wound up with a 64, and would have a shot on the postseason with a giant week at Sedgefield.
“I have been enjoying properly for some time, and Randy Smith, my coach, has been bugging me to remain affected person, simply attempt to hit the shot that is required and have enjoyable,” Woodland mentioned. “Once you’re not getting the outcomes you need, that is the toughest half might be to have just a little enjoyable.
“I am in rather a lot higher place than I used to be a yr in the past, so attempting to get pleasure from it just a little bit. It was good to see some go in at this time.”
