Brendan Steele, robbed of a hole in one in heartbreaking style, still emerged with the halfway lead at the Honda Classic, where he fired a three-under par 67 for a one-stroke edge on Friday.
Steele's five birdies at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, included a stunning tee shot at the par-three 15th that circled the cup, dipped down and popped out to leave him inches for birdie.
"I wish it would have gone in, but I was happy to tap in," said Steele, who is chasing a fourth US PGA Tour title.
The American had climbed the leaderboard with a 10-foot birdie putt at the second, a six-footer at the 10th and a 19-foot birdie at 13.
After failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker at 16 he drained another 10-footer for birdie at 17, and even a bogey at 18 -- where his second shot was over the green and in the water -- left him alone atop the leaderboard on five-under 135.
England's Lee Westwood and Luke Donald and American J.T. Poston were a stroke back on 136 and US Open champion Gary Woodland shared fifth place with fellow
"That's when I play my best, especially with this northwesterly wind, the course tends to play a bit tougher this way. You've got to be patient, got to pick your spots to attack."
- Koepka misses cut -
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"Really pleased with how I'm hitting it. Putter, I just haven't putted well."
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