Jul 13, 2018 3 min read

A stumble over the final nine holes cost Steve Wheatcroft the lead in the John Deere Classic on a steamy Friday afternoon on the TPC Deere Run Course in Silvis, Ill.

Wheatcroft, a Trinity High School graduate, held a one-shot lead at the beginning of the round after a career-best 9-under-par 62 in Thursday’s first round.

Wheatcroft finished the second round at 3-under 68 and is in a tie for second place. Wheatcroft made the turn after a blistering 5-under-par 31 but he finished the second nine with three bogeys and a birdie.

“I got off to a fast start and wanted to put the pedal down,” said Wheatcroft. “I was 5 under through eight but stalled a little bit on the (second) nine. … It was a frustrating (second) nine but we’ll get back at it (Saturday).”

Wheatcroft said the weather was a factor for everyone.

“It’s brutal out here, one of the hottest days I ever played,” said Wheatcroft. “I don’t know what the heat index was but it had to be 105, 106.”

Michael Kim took a four-shot lead in a tournament suspended twice because of weather concerns.

Kim, who is winless in 84 career PGA Tour starts, was 16 under through 35 holes, with the second round to be completed Saturday morning.

Kim birdied eight of his first 14 holes without a bogey to race past Wheatcroft, who shot 68. Wheatcroft, David Hearn (64) and Johnson Wagner (66) were at 12 under.

Francesco Molinari was 11 under along with Matt Jones and Bronson Burgoon, who made two eagles on Friday and was 8 under for the round with three holes to play.

The 24-year-old Kim, a former standout at Cal, pushed his lead to three shots by hitting a wedge from 111 yards to within 5 feet for birdie on the par-4 13th.

Kim, who had missed the cut in 14 of 22 starts this season, followed that up with a 13-footer for birdie on the par-4 14th.

Hearn has had an up-and-down year, missing eight cuts. But his irons have been dialed in at TPC Deere Run. He birdied three of the four par-3s on Friday.

Two tied at LPGA event: Brooke Henderson shot a bogey-free 5-under 66 to move into a tie for the lead after two rounds at the Marathon Classic. The 20-year-old Canadian and Caroline Hedwall of Sweden were at 9-under 133 through 36 holes. Thidapa Suwannapura was one shot back. The 29-year-old Hedwall is looking for her first LPGA Tour victory. Henderson won earlier this season in Hawaii, the sixth of her career.

Parel leads Senior Players: Scott Parel grabbed a one-stroke lead in the Constellation Senior Players Championship, shooting a 6-under 66 in the second round to reach 11 under. The 53-year-old Parel made seven birdies after starting the day two shots off the lead. He is seeking his first PGA Tour Champions victory. Jeff Maggert and Brandt Jobe were one shot back in the fourth of five majors on the tour’s schedule.

Two tied at U.S. Senior Women: Laura Davies and Trish Johnson shot 4-under-par 142 for 36 holes at Chicago Golf Club to share the lead in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Both stand at 4-under par 142 through 36 holes. First-round leader Elaine Crosby trails by six strokes after shooting a 5-over 78.