Jason Dufner leads after 36 holes at Zurich Classic

Avondale, LA, United States (AHN Sports) – Jason Dufner, the PGA Tour’s equivalent of a pace runner, is at it again at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Dufner, who often leads at the halfway point, has never finished one off and now he has the 36-hole lead at the TPC Louisiana. He rolled in a 30-foot eagle putt at the 18th hole Friday for a seven-under par round of 65. It put him a shot in front of John Rollins, first round co-leader Ken Duke and rookie Russell Knox.

The former Auburn golfer who contended at the Masters through the first 36 holes, had a bogey-free round on an ideal scoring day. Steve Stricker birdied the 10th hole to get to 12-under and shared the lead with Dufner but a pair of bogeys coming home dropped him to 10-under and in a tie with Ernie Els and Greg Chalmers.

Knox, a first-year player from Inverness, Scotland, shot the day’s low round, an eight-under par 64. This is the third cut he’s made this season.

Defending champion Bubba Watson continued to struggle and finished at two-under par 142 and made the cut on the number.

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