Kyle Stanley holds a one-shot lead at the midway point of the Farmers Insurance Open, but local favourite Phil Mickelson has missed the cut at Torrey Pines.
Stanley carded a four-under-round of 68 to move to 14-under-par on the Californian course on Friday, a score to leave him one shot ahead of Brandt Snedeker, and two clear of Sang-Moon Bae and Martin Flores.
Hunter Mahan and Bill Haas share a tie for fifth on -10, however a 68 could not make up for Mickelson’s first round 77 as a two-day score of +1 saw him five shots below the cut line.
Leader Stanley had no such worries. Having been joint leader with Spencer Levin after a first round 62, he was solid and composed throughout and recovered well from a double bogey and bogey in the space of three holes from 14 to 16. A birdie at the last cancelled out part of that, before four more birdies after the turn – including one at the ninth – saw him edge clear of Snedeker at the summit.
Snedeker carded a fine eight-under-round of 64 to boost himself into contention. A bogey at the 12th was the only blemish on his card as he also started on the back nine. He would recover, hitting five successive birdies from 17 to three, with two more to close and leave him very well-placed.
Korean Bae joined the third-best placed American Flores in carding rounds of 65, while Mahan played a 65 to shoot right up level with reigning FedExCup champion Haas, the recorder of a 71.
US trio Justin Leonard, John Rolliin and John Huh, and Australian Robert Allenby, are all five shots off the lead on nine-under-par.
Elsewhere, Justin Rose (-5) and Ernie Els (-3) are some way off the pace at halfway, but suffering just one bogey on Friday could not make up for three-time winner Mickelson’s horros show 24 hours earlier.