Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 4-under-par 69 within the second spherical on Friday to vault right into a share of the lead on the Trophy Hassan II in Rabat, Morocco.
The Spaniard collected six birdies towards two bogeys to drag right into a tie with Steven Alker of New Zealand at 7-under 139 within the PGA Tour Champions occasion at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
Jimenez is looking for his 14th profession win on the Champions Tour and first for the reason that 2022 Boeing Basic.
“I’d like to (win),” Jimenez mentioned. “It is another spherical, Steve’s enjoying very nicely. I performed with him yesterday, he is a really strong participant. Just a few guys there, Carlos additionally gained final yr right here. OK, I have been enjoying nicely, I’ve to deal with myself and let something occurs.
“… I have been hitting strong and enjoying very nicely and I hope tomorrow I can end up there.”
Alker, who’s bidding for his ninth profession Champions Tour victory, shared the first-round lead with Englishman Simon Griffiths.
On Friday, Alker had three bogeys to offset three birdies on the entrance 9 earlier than carding three extra birdies to shut his spherical. The reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner completed with a 70 and joined Jimenez with a two-stroke lead over Tim O’Neal (71 on Friday).
“Yeah, I had a little bit little bit of a gradual begin; I used to be 2 over after 4,” Alker mentioned. “Simply needed to get going, give myself a little bit of a kick within the butt. Then bought it going, made a bunch of birdies sort of by the center there. And once more, robust end, par on 18. Would have preferred to have made birdie however happy with the day the best way I began.”
Griffiths plummeted right into a tie for twenty fourth place after carding a 77 on Friday.
Defending champion Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina, who set a 54-hole file (209) on the course in 2024, shot a 3-under 70 on Friday to maneuver into fourth place at 4-under. He sits one shot forward of a nine-golfer contingent that features South African Ernie Els, who gained the season-opening Mitsubishi Electrical Championship at Hualalai final month.
Els, who entered the week atop the Schwab Cup standings, carded a 71 on Friday,
Angel Cabrera of Argentina shot a 68 within the second spherical to reside at 3-under with South Korea’s Ok.J. Choi (69), Justin Leonard (70), Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (70), Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn (71), Australia’s Greg Chalmers (71), Stewart Cink (72) and Adilson da Silva of Brazil.
–Subject Degree Media