Travelers Championship Opening Rounds
David Toms and Jay Williamson share the 36-hole lead at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Toms’ Friday score of 5-under par 65 was tied for the best of the day, but was three strokes off Thursday’s best round of 62 turned in by first round leader Hunter Mahan.
Friday saw the TPC River Highlands have swirling winds reaching 25 mph; in addition, rain played a factor delaying rounds throughout the day. As a result, scores were considerably higher compared to Thursday.
But, Toms still managed a 65.
He got off to a fast start when his approach shot to the par-4 2nd hit the green then one-hopped its way into the bottom of the cup for an eagle. Toms then made four birdies on the back nine coupled with no bogeys to shoot 65 and got himself to 8-under for the tournament.
Williamson backed up his Thursday 66 with another 66 on Friday. His bogey-free Friday round put him at 8-under par with Toms and now holds his first 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour.
Williamson played on the PGA Tour from 1995-1996 and 1999-2006 and played on the Nationwide Tour in 1995, 1998 and 2006. In his eight years on the PGA Tour, Williamson’s best finish was a tie for 3rd place at the 2003 BellSouth Classic. From 1995-2006, Williamson never recorded a victory on either tour.
Until this year.
Williamson shot four rounds in the 60s to capture the Fort Smith Classic on the Nationwide Tour. He started the final round six strokes off the pace of 54-hole leader Justin Bolli but closed the gap with a 63 to win by one stroke.
Mahan struggled on Friday. He had ten birdies on his way to a 62 on Thursday but could only manage two birdies on Friday. He shot a second round 71 yet is still only one stroke behind Toms and Williamson.
