Lucas Glover builds two-shot lead in John Deere Classic

SILVIS, Ill. (AP) — Lucas Glover kept another clean card by holing a 12-foot par putt on his final hole for a 6-under 65 to take a two-shot lead Friday in the John Deere Classic.

Glover started on No. 10 in the afternoon and did most of his damage of the back nine with five birdies, though equally important was going bogey-free through 36 holes.

He was at 14-under 128, two shots ahead of Lee Hodges (66) and another shot ahead of Zac Blair, who made a nifty par of his own on the closing hole at TPC Deere Run for a 68.

For a tournament with so much emphasis on youth, the focus shifted to some of the veterans. Glover is 46 and first joined the PGA Tour before the likes of Jackson Koivun, NCAA champion Preston Stout and 18-year-old Blades Brown were even born.

And before he teed off in the second round, 50-year-old Zach Johnson shot 70 to set the early target. Johnson, who is skipping the U.S. Senior Open this week because the Deere has always been a local event for the Iowa native, was tied for 11th, six shots behind.

Glover’s three-year exemption from winning back-to-back tournaments in the late summer of 2023 is set to expire this year, so this could be a big week for him. Then again, he’s been around for so long he only cares about playing good golf.

“I’m too old to chase that stuff, to be fair,” Glover said. “I just want to play. I just wanted to play well again, and I’ve struggled. Having two days like this just gives me a little belief that it’s in there, you know? Been working hard at it and hadn’t seen many results and have for two days. Doesn’t mean anything tomorrow. Doesn’t mean anything Sunday.

“But for these first two days my work has been paying off,” he said. “I got a couple more days to keep fighting and keep doing it.”

Glover got off to a blazing start through five holes, with each of his shots into the green 8 feet or closer. He converted three of them for birdie and hit his tee shot into the par-3 16th to 2 feet.

Hodges made a pair of 8-foot par putts over his final three holes to stay in range.

Koivun, the top college player and No. 1 amateur in the world, missed the cut in his professional debut two weeks after sharing low amateur honors at the U.S. Open.

The top performance among youth came from Stout and Brown.

Stout, who has taken over as the world’s No. 1 amateur now that Koivun has turned pro, had to take a penalty drop on the 18th hole and made bogey for a 69. He was at 7-under 135 with Brown (66).

Brown turned pro when he was still in high school, graduated in January and already has secured special temporary membership in the PGA Tour while moving closer to a tour card through his standing on the Korn Ferry Tour. Brown also is bogey-free going into the weekend, making a 7-foot par on his last hole.

The cut came at 3-under 141, and Jordan Spieth made it on the number. He was outside by three shots until three bogeys in a five-hole stretch on the back nine for a 69.

Canadians A.J. Ewart and Mackenzie Hughes are tied for 61st with 18 other players at 3 under and are the only two Canadians to make the weekend cut.

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The Associated Press