LOS ANGELES: US PGA Tour rookie Davis Thompson grabbed a trio of eagles Friday (Saturday in Manila) in an eight-under par 64 that kept him two strokes clear of Spain's Jon Rahm in the US PGA Tour American Express tournament in California.
After notching back-to-back eagles in his first-round 62, Thompson matched the US tour record for eagles through 36 holes in a tournament as he added another three on the Nicklaus Tournament course, one of three in use for the event in La Quinta, California.
"Just had some good numbers into par-fives and was able to execute my shots," said the 23-year-old graduate of the developmental Korn Ferry Tour, who is chasing his first US PGA Tour title.
"Had some putts drop. So it was nice to make some eagles."
The first came at the par-five 11th, where he rolled in a 20-foot eagle putt.
After a birdie at 15, he slowed a bit with bogeys at the 16th and first, but he bounced back with a birdie at the third followed by an eagle at the fourth, where he hit a five-iron to about 15 feet and made the putt.
He added birdies at the fifth and sixth, and at the seventh hit a "really good six-iron and make, like, a 20-footer" to cap a run that saw him pick up seven strokes in the space of five holes.
"Everything is kind of clicking these last two playing days and just looking forward to trying to keep it rolling tomorrow," Thompson said.
On Saturday he'll play the Stadium Course, which will also host the final round after the 54-hole cut is made.
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