Spain's Jon Rahm kept up his impressive professional debut by posting a four-under-par 67 to share a three-shot, second-round lead with local favorite Billy Hurley III at the Quicken Loans National here Friday. Overnight leader Rahm, the former Arizona State golfer who was the low amateur at last week's US Open at Oakmont, held sole possession of the lead before missing a four-foot par putt at the last in Bethesda, Maryland. Hurley, a US Naval Academy graduate who calls nearby Annapolis his home, fired a six-under 65 to join playing partner Rahm on 11-under-par 131 at Congressional. Alone in third place was 53-year-old Vijay Singh of Fiji, whose five-under 66 took him to eight-under at the halfway mark. Lurking another shot back was Ernie Els, tied with three others at seven-under on the course where the big South African won his second US Open crown in 1997. Rahm was delighted that he was able to register another strong score in his second professional round after opening with a 64. "I couldn't be happier," the 21-year-old from Barrika said. "(Thursday) was a great round and after a great round usually it's hard to follow it. I'm really proud of myself." Three-time major champion Singh, who has not won on the PGA Tour since 2008, could become the circuit's oldest winner with a victory. Hurley, looking for a first PGA Tour victory, credited his impressive start to his play on the greens. Tied with Els on seven-under were Americans Webb Simpson, the 2012 US Open champion, Bill Haas and Harold Varnell III. Uehara 2 shots ahead Ayako Uehara tied the tournament scoring record by carding a bogey-free nine-under 62 for a two shot lead after the opening round of the USLPGA Tour's NW Arkansas Championship Friday. Japan's Uehara matched the tournament record set by Jane Park and Angela Park eight years ago. She also established a personal best score by one stroke, beating the 63 she shot two years ago in Malaysia. Uehara is hoping that 2016 will be a breakout year for her as she is playing some of the best golf of her career having made the cut in five of her last six tournaments. In her first seven starts of 2016 she made just one cut. "Everything is coming together," Uehara said of her support team. "With the caddie and the trainer, everybody is like team work and that's my motivation now." Uehara, who birdied seven of her final 10 holes, was two strokes ahead of Taiwan's Candie Kung (64) in the $2 million event at Pinnacle Country Club. Uehara is ranked No. 215 in the world rankings and has never won on the LPGA Tour. Her best finish is a third place at the 2012 Japan Classic. Kung opened with three straight birdies and added five more before her only bogey of the round at No. 6, her 15th hole of the day. A sizeable group at six under included Angela Stanford, Vicky Hurst, Yan Jing, Alena Sharp, Yoo Sun-Young, Chella Choi, Min-Jee Lee, Carlota Ciganda, Ai Miyazato, Ryu So-Yeon, P.K. Kongkraphan and Morgan Pressel. Top-ranked Lydia Ko posted a 66 and former world number one Stacy Lewis shot a 67. Second-ranked Canadian Brooke Henderson is in the hunt after opening with a two-under 69. — Agencies
