IVINS, Utah – Stephan Jaeger made a 3-putt from 10 feet for birdie on back-to-back holes Friday for an 8-under 63 that gave him one shot before the second round was halted by darkness. The first Black Desert Championship.
The PGA Tour’s return to Utah for the first time in 61 years was greeted with low scores on the Tom Weiskopf design carved out of ancient black lava.
Jaeger was 14-under 128 — a three-under par through 36 holes — and had six players within two shots at Black Desert Resort.
Adam Svensson followed his career-low 60 with a 69 and was tied with Ben Kohles, who had a 64.
Matt McCarty, whose three Korn Ferry Tour wins earned him immediate promotion to the PGA Tour in August, was 12-under par and about 20 feet from the first cut on the par-5 seventh when it was too dark to it can continue. He still had a par-5 tee shot to finish his second round on Saturday morning.
Harris English (64), Henrik Norlander (68) and Sam Ryder (66) were 12-under 130.
Jaeger took action early on another beautiful day in southwest Utah with three straight birdies to start and another on the reachable par-4 fifth hole. He was ready for another birdie until his 10-foot putt at the seventh ran nearly three feet, and he missed a short return par putt.
But he eventually came roaring back, making a 30-foot birdie on the 12th, driving the par-4 14th green with two putts and birdying the next two holes. Jaeger putt two feet from 50 for birdie on the closing par-5 hole to take the lead.
“The two back chip-ins took this round from good to great, he was very happy with it,” Jaeger said. “The game feels good.”
Jaeger already has one victory this year, capturing his first PGA Tour title at the Houston Open in the second round over Scottie Scheffler. It was everything in between that left him searching.
He is one of two players — Chris Kirk, six shots back, is the other — to finish in the top 50 at the FedEx Cup and is guaranteed every $20 million signature event next year.
For players like English, it’s a chance to finish in the top 60 and at least get into the first two $20 million events at Pebble Beach and Riviera.
“I’m not caught up in all that,” English said. “Playing good golf is a lot of fun and that’s why I play. I came here to try to win, get up on the leaderboard and inspire those butterflies to see if you can win.”
Then many others want to make sure they finish at 125 to secure a full tour card. Norlander is No. 131 and Ryder is No. 132, so this is going to be a big week.
What remains to be seen is when the second round resumes on Saturday morning at the cut, which was 5-under par. Wesley Bryan was 3 under and had a 15 foot eagle on his last hole, choosing to tag it and wait until morning.
One player who should have missed the cut was Jay Don Blake, a 65-year-old Utah native who grew up less than a mile from what was then the old clay court. Now a five-star venue that hosts a PGA Tour event, Blake has been granted a sponsor’s exemption. It was his 500th career start. He shot a 79.
“To play and be able to participate in the 500th event is just a crazy dream,” said Blake, who won at Torrey Pines for his only tour title. “I gave up trying to get 500 about 10, 12 years ago. All the emotions have been like a whirlwind all over the place. Most of it has been joy, and I’ve had a really good time.”
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