Power's Mexican challenge hit by messy finish

Seamus Power's second round was soured by a sloppy finish as he sits nine shots off the pace near the midway point at the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico.

The Waterford golfer, who claimed his second PGA Tour victory in Bermuda last weekend, carded a round of 68 on Friday, briefly breaking into the top-10 following a hot streak on the front nine.

FULL LEADERBOARD

But a messy finish saw him fall back into the pack, with Russell Henley top of the leaderboard on 16-under par.

The American carded a second successive 63 and is yet to drop a shot, his eight second round birdies split evenly on the back and front nine.

The three-time PGA Tour winner holds a three-shot lead over compatriots Sam Ryder and Will Gordon.

After an opening bogey, Power recovered superbly to reach the turn in 33, rattling in four birdies in six holes between the second and seventh.

Another birdie followed at the par-4 11th hole as Power reached nine-under, clambering into a tie for 8th.

However, he lost ground on the run-in, a wayward drive resulting in a penalty stroke on a dropped shot on 14, another bogey following after missing the green with his approach on the 16th.

After finding the greenside bunker on 18, Power successfully got up and down to save par for a round of 68, lying on seven-under par and a tie for 22nd position heading into the weekend.

Elsewhere, two-time major winner Collin Morikawa was a big mover, following a sluggish 71 on Thursday with a superb 63 on Day 2.

He joins a high-powered group on eight under par, alongside Ryder Cup players Viktor Hovland and Harris English and 2018 Open Champion Francesco Molinari.