Smotherman eases to three stroke lead

Austin Smotherman increased his lead to three strokes after the second round despite two early bogeys at the Cognizant Classic golf championships in the Palm Beaches.

Smotherman shot a 2-under 69 on the Champion course after recovering with four birdies in a five-hole stretch, including a 55-footer on the demanding 17^th hole.

Seeking his first PGA Tour title, he has expanded his lead from one to three shots over Taylor Moore at 11-under 131.

The 31-year-old Californian had missed the cut in his lone previous appearance at the Cognizant Classic four years ago and in four starts this season, recorded three missed cuts and a tied-8th finish at the The American Express.

Moore enters the the weekend three shots back after carding back-to-back 67s. In his third start of the season, Moore is looking a his first top-25 finish after a T49 at the Farmers Insurance Open and T56 finish at the The American Express this season.

Canadian rookie A.J. Ewart and Nico Echavaria are a further stroke behind with 135 totals.

Ewart carded a 7-under 64 to vault 49 spots into third place. Ewart made five consecutive birdies on his front nine (holes 12-though-16) and had a birdie hat trick on his back nine (6, 7 and 8). His only blemish was a double bogey on the difficult 17^th.

Echavarria fired in two birdies against three bogeys for a second-round 72 and is seeking a third title on the Tour, having won the 2023 Puerto Rico Open and 2024 Baycurrent Classic.

Joel Dahmen carded back-to-back 68s to trail by a further stoke behind while Jimmy Stanger is hot on the heels of the front pack, after carding eagles on he par-4 sixth and par-4 14^th.

Following a first-round 74, nine-time PGA Tour winner Brooks Koepka posted a 5-under 66, his lowest score in eight rounds this season to move up to T27 on two-under.

He is tied with 26th ranked Ryan Gerard, the highest-ranked player in the field, who carded a 67 round. Max Homa (T18/-3) and Mackenzie Hughes (T27/-2) join Gerard as the only three players bogey free on Friday.

Among those missing the cut at even-par 142 were former major champions Gary Woodland, Danny Willett and Webb Simpson, former tournament champions Matt Kuchar, Camillo Villegas and Chris Kirk and rising star Luke Clanton.

Defending champion Joe Highsmith birdied the 18^th hole to make the cut on the number. Last year, he also made the cut on the number and shot a pair of 64s for his first PGA Tour win.

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