NeSmith hits record low as Thomas stays in Valspar hunt

Matthew NeSmith posted the lowest round of his PGA Tour career to move into a two-shot lead at the Valspar Championship, with Justin Thomas part of the chasing pack.

The 28-year-old carded an eagle and eight birdies on his way to a round-of-the-day 61 at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, with the world No 279's remarkable performance four strokes better than anyone else in the field during the second round.

Canada's Adam Hadwin sits two strokes back in second ahead of Sam Burns and Scott Stallings, while Thomas heads into the weekend four behind on 10 under as he chases a first victory of the season.

"I feel like I've been trending the right direction," Thomas said. "I feel like I'm really close to playing some good golf and getting on a run and winning some tournaments. But that being said, it doesn't mean that it's going to happen.

"I'm not owed anything. I just have to go out and get it and execute. I feel like the areas that I needed to improve are starting to improve, and I feel like the areas that were pretty good are maintaining that or even getting a little bit better."

NeSmith followed a two-putt birdie at the par-five 11th by firing a brilliant approach to eight feet at the par-five 13th and holing the eagle putt, with the American holing a 20-footer at the 15th to reach the turn in 31.

Three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the first - including one from 40 feet at the fourth - lifted NeSmith up the leaderboard, with a hat-trick of birdies from the sixth seeing him tie the course record set by Padraig Harrington in 2012.

Hadwin had set the initial clubhouse target after a four-under 67, a score matched by Stallings in tied-third, while Thomas briefly held a share of the lead after nailing a