Stephen Jaeger has a one-stroke lead at the PGA Tour’s Black Desert Championship after back-to-back chip-in birdies on the back nine gave the German card an 8-under second round.
Jaeger’s 63 was highlighted by off-the-green gains of 15 and 16, which came amid five birdies in his final seven holes in Utah.
The 35-year-old finished Friday’s tournament at 14 under par. This was one stroke ahead of Canada’s Adam Svensson and America’s Ben Kohles, who recorded 11 under par 60 on the first day.
Jaeger recorded back-to-back birdies on Utah’s back nine.
Many players have not yet completed their second rounds due to poor play on the day, with Matt McCarty, playing in his second PGA Tour event after three wins on the Korn Ferry Tour this summer, sitting at 12 under par after 15 holes.
Jaeger got off to a fast start with three and four consecutive birdies in the first five holes, but a three-putt from 10 feet on the seventh was his only blemish on the day.
But he sank from 30 feet for a birdie on No. 12, picked up another shot on No. 14 and had consecutive chip-ins on the next two holes.
Yeager, who won his first PGA Tour title by beating world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March, finished his round with a two-putt for birdie from 50 feet on the par-5 18th hole.
He later said: “The two chip-ins on the back took this round from good to great. I’m really happy with it.”
Book your round at the best price at one of our 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland
Sam Ryder, Henrik Norlander and Harris English tied for fourth place with McCarty at 12 under par, two strokes behind Jaeger.
Watch the ongoing broadcast of the Black Desert Championship live Sky Sports Golf Activities also begin at 10pm on Saturday. Sky Sports Main Event From 11pm.
The massive rematch between Fabio Wadley and British heavyweight rival Fraser Clarke features Saturday’s live Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight. Sky Sports ticket office. Book now!
