By Tom Zulewski, Iron County Today
IVINS – Stephen Jaeger carded an 8-under par 63, and it was good enough for a 1-shot lead after two rounds of the inaugural PGA Tour Black Desert Championship being played at the Black Desert Resort. Jaeger had nine birdies to go with one bogey to take a one-shot lead over Adam Svensson and Ben Kohles.
“This is one of those golf courses where if you get off to a good start, you can take your chances sometimes and be conservative on some shots,” said Jaeger, who started Friday’s round with four birdies in his first five holes.
Jaeger’s surge continued with a pair of chip-ins, one at the 15th and the other at 16, part of a closing run of four birdies in the last five holes.
Svensson followed up his sizzling opening round of 60 with a 2-under 69, and he had a 1-shot lead in the clubhouse before Jaeger completed his round.
18 players weren’t able to finish the second round Friday due to darkness, and a total of 69 players made the cut at 5-under par. Zac Blair was the only player with Utah ties to survive and advance to play the final 36 holes. Blair, a BYU graduate, shot rounds of 68-69 to stand at 5-under, and he’s at even par on his third round through three holes.
Kihel Akina, an 18-year-old senior at Lone Peak, fell one shot short of advancing after he finished Friday’s round at 4-under.
St. George native Jay Don Blake, who was making his 500th career start, had more than 30 friends and family following him throughout both rounds, shot 73 on Thursday and 79 on Friday to miss the cut. Blake said that this was his final start on the PGA Tour.
“It was a great experience,” Blake said. “We’ve talked quite a bit about the scenario, how it all happened, to be in my hometown, the 500th start going to be the end of my PGA Tour career. I don’t think I need to get to 501.”
Golf Channel will provide live coverage of Round 3 of the Black Desert Championship today starting at 3 p.m.