Shane Lowry hardly put a foot wrong in the second round of the Valspar Championship, where a bogey-free 68 for a midway total of five-under-par 137 on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook resort in Florida ensured he comfortably survived the cut and can aim at a weekend charge.
In near perfect conditions of sunshine and barely a breath of wind, scoring was low with Canadian Adam Hadwin claiming the clubhouse lead in adding a 66 to his opening 64 for 12-under-par 130, a stroke clear of defending champion Sam Burns and veteran Scott Stallings, with Justin Thomas a stroke further back after successive 66s.
Lowry, who started on the 10th, claimed back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th to get off to a strong start. On the par-three 13th, his tee-shot came up three feet short of the pin and he calmly rolled in the birdie putt; then, on the par-five 14th, his three-wood approach found a greenside bunker and, after splashing to nine feet, he rolled in the putt.
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- March 19, 2022
