The Daily Wrap-up, Rd. 2: Zurich Classic
AVONDALE, La. (AP) -- Jerry Kelly moved into position for his first PGA TOUR victory since his breakthrough 2002 season, shooting a 6-under 66 on Friday for a one-stroke lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Kelly had a 10-under 134 total on the TPC Louisiana course. His lone TOUR victories came in 2002 -- in the Sony Open and Advil Western Open.
"I'm really happy, very comfortable with the swing," Kelly said. "It wasn't completely on, but it was helping me get in there."
No one was able to catch Kelly, but Troy Matteson was close behind.
Matteson had the low round of the tournament, an 8-under 64, to share second with Charley Hoffman, who shot a 66. Matteson's 64 -- which included an eagle on the windy seventh -- matched the course record.
"I tell you, I haven't had that many birdies and eagles all year if you add it all together," Matteson said. "So it's good to get a little round like that."
Louisiana favorite David Toms shot his second consecutive 68. The former LSU star was 8 under along with first-round leader Charlie Wi (70), Parker McLachlin (69), John Merrick (69) and John Rollins (67). Wi offset four birdies on the first nine and one on the backside with bogeys on 14 and 15.
Former champion Andres Romero was disqualified after the first two rounds for signing an incorrect scorecard.
Romero shot what he thought was a 3-over 75, pushing him to 5 over for the tournament. That would have made him miss the cut.
Romero told officials at the scorers' table he made a 5 at the par-5 18th. The 2008 rookie of the year didn't remember the one-stroke penalty he received for hitting his first shot into the water, so he actually made a 6.
• To read the remainder of this story, click here.
INSIDE THE ROPES WITH THE PGA TOUR NETWORK
PGA TOUR Network correspondent Michael Collins offers these observations from Friday's action. Listen to PGA TOUR Live coverage on XM 146/SIRIUS 209 or right here at PGATOUR.COM.
In the "tickled my funnybone" department of the day, I was following Danny Lee, who, in his pro debut at the Zurich Classic, missed the cut after two tough days. The thing that made me laugh was what Jason Day saw in the new pro. An unnamed source overheard Jason saying, "That's how I was when I first got out on TOUR, 100 percent aggression. Go for everything. He'll learn." That from a 22-year-old making his 42nd TOUR start. With kids coming on TOUR at 17 and 18, it kind of makes the 22- and 23-year olds seem like wiley veterans.
Today I got to talk to Chris Paul. The extraordinary point guard of New Orleans Hornets, who was walking around the Zurich Classic with his brother and a couple of friends, went to school with Webb Simpson at Wake Forrest. Webb and Chris used to hit balls together, Webb sometimes giving tips to the basketball sensation. Paul said, "It is so weird to see him out there playing on TOUR." Don't you think he feels the same about you in the NBA? "Yeah, I guess he does." You good on the course? "Nah and my brother C.J. is the fakest dressed Tiger Woods out on the course! At least I can still beat him on the Wii and by the end of this year I'm gonna have his number on the course." We both agreed the Tiger Woods '08 on Wii had better putting feel than the '09 version. They want to play TPC Sawgrass sometime after the season is over, so we're planning on a little match.
When you come to New Orleans there is one place you have to go eat. Acme Oyster Co., just off Bourbon Street. You are going to wait in line to get in and if you go on a Friday or Saturday night around 8 you're going to wait for a while, but trust me, it's worth every minute. Last year, my best friend Jose', who had never been to New Orleans and never had an oyster of any kind, went with me and decided to try them. Three dozen charbroiled and two dozen raw oysters later... this year he couldn't come, but asked me to FedEx him two dozen. I love Jose, but you have to eat them fresh so my first dozen will be in his honor.
| Top 5 notables at Zurich Classic of New Orleans | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Friday's Best |
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The 561-yard par-5 seventh hole at TPC Louisiana was easiest with a Friday scoring average of 4.465.
The 492-yard par-4 12th hole at TPC Louisiana was toughest with a Friday scoring average of 4.258.
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George McNeill hit his tee shot to within a foot on the difficult par-3 17th to set up an easy birdie. 
Troy Matteson tied the course record with a 7-birdie, one-eagle effort to move into contention heading to the weekend. | QUOTE OF THE DAY | ||||||||||
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| Live Essentials | ||||
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SECOND-ROUND NOTEBOOK: ZURICH CLASSIC
By Joe Chemycz, PGA TOUR Staff
NEW ORLEANS -- Louisiana native David Toms is making his 16th career start in this event. He won the tournament in 2001 when it was contested at English Turn G&CC. The victory was the fifth of his 12 career titles. Toms has made two prior starts at TPC Louisiana:
• Toms' 136 total is one shot off his best opening 36-hole total in this tournament. Toms posted rounds of 69-66-135 to begin in 2004 when he finished tied for 34th. He also carded a 69-67-136 in 2006 and wound up tied for 47th. When Toms won in 2001, he opened 66-73 but then came back on the weekend to shoot 63-64 and finish 22-under par, two better than runner-up Phil Mickelson.
• Jerry Kelly, the 36-hole leader at 10-under 134 (68-66), is making his ninth start in New Orleans. He has made the cut in six of eight starts with his only top-10 a tie for fifth in 2003. In Kelly's only previous start at TPC Louisiana was in 2005 when he finished tied for 65th.
• In Kelly's previous two career wins -- the 2002 Sony Open in Hawaii and the Advil Western Open -- he was near the lead at the halfway mark.
• To read the remainder of this story, click here.
KODAK CHALLENGE: The first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players continues at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The Kodak Challenge celebrates beautiful holes and memorable moments on the PGA TOUR. The Kodak Challenge offers $1 million to the winner. There will be one designated Kodak Challenge Hole at 24 different PGA TOUR tournaments in 2009, with this week's featured hole the 215-yard par-3 17th.
Players, who must play at least 18 of the holes during the season to be eligible, will count their lowest score relative to par on the Kodak Challenge Hole made during an official competition round. The player, with the lowest cumulative score in relation to par at the end of the challenge, wins.
• For more on the Kodak Challenge, click here.
| This week's Kodak Challenge hole | |
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| This week at the Kodak Challenge hole | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Round-by-round statistics on the par-3 17th at TPC Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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