Sam Ryder holds three-shot lead at the Farmers Insurance

Sam Ryder battled gusting winds on the South Course at Torrey Pines to shoot a four-under-par 68 for a three-shot lead at the midway point of the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.

After posting 64 on the more scoreable North Course o nWednesday, Ryder carded five birdies against a lone bogey to record the lowest score of the day among the 78 players who tackled the challenging South Course. He is 12 under through 36 holes.

It may be a good harbinger of things to come on the weekend for 283rd-ranked Ryder, who is seeking his first career PGA Tour victory. The final two round sof the tournament will be contested on the South Course as well. Among the second-lowest rounds of the day on the South Course belonged to Ryder's playing partner Brendan Steele, who carded 70, as did Max Homa. Steele is at nine under and will be paired again with Ryder on Friday.

The lowest rounds of the day overall belonged to Argentina's Tano Goya and Jon Rahm, who each posted 67s on the North Course. Goya is in solo third at seven under, one shot ahead of a deep group that includes Homa and rising rookie Taylor Montgomery.

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Rahm, who began the day on the back nine, was in danger of missing the cut when he arrived at his 14th hole of the day at one over. He promptly eagled the par-five fifth hole and reeled off three consecutive birdies to get into the clubhouse at four under.

The Spaniard, who is seeking to become the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win three consecutive events on tour, battled his way back into contention and is eight shots off the lead.

Rahm is one shot behind a group at five under that includes Collin Morikawa and former Farmers champion Jason Day of Australia. Two shots behind Rahm in a group at two under