Justin Lower turns another 65 into 2-shot lead at Bermuda

A string of four birdies over five holes to open the back nine propelled Justin Lower to a 6-under-par 65 on Friday, matching his round from the previous day and giving him a two-stroke lead through two rounds at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in Southampton, Bermuda.

That result may not have seemed particularly likely through the first half of Round 2 after some members of the field completed the first round earlier in the day after a suspension due to darkness Thursday. Lower still began his second round tied for the lead with Hayden Springer and had three birdies over the first five holes before a bogey at No. 9.

"I had a bad break on 6 and 9," Lower said. "To not get the par 5s when they're all kind of reachable other than No. 2 just being into the wind, that part kind of sucks."

But things heated up for Lower at Port Royal Golf Course when he carded birdies on Holes 10, 12, 13 and 14 to stake himself to an eventual two shot-lead over Robby Shelton and Ryan Moore. Most of the field completed the second round before play was suspended due to darkness for a second straight day.

Lower still felt he could have finished a little stronger.

"Yeah, it felt good most of the day, pretty solid for the most part," Lower said. "It would have been nice to get one of those last two putts to go in on 17, 18, but still a great round and I'm happy where I'm at."

On Thursday, Springer and Lower shot 6-under-par 65s to grab an early one-shot edge over Patrick Rodgers, Joseph Bramlett and Kevin Dougherty before play was suspended.

Springer shot a 1-under 70 to fall off of Lower's pace and fall into a tie for 10th. Rodgers (71), Bramlett (72) and Dougherty (73) also fell behind the leaders.

Shelton and Moore, meanwhile, matched Lower on