Andrew Novak seized the lead at the halfway point of the RSM Classic thanks to a second-round 65 on Friday in St. Simons Island, Ga.
The field played one round at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course and one round at the Plantation Course over the first two days. Novak’s 9-under 61 at Seaside on Thursday was overshadowed by Doug Ghim’s round, where he came close to sealing a 59 on the final hole before signing for a 60.
Novak picked up where he left off Friday, starting his day on the back nine and making six birdies between Nos. 15 and 2 to grab the lead. A bogey-birdie-bogey finish placed Novak at 16-under 126 but limited him to a one-stroke edge.
Patrick Rodgers (62, Plantation) and Michael Thorbjornsen (63, Seaside) are on Novak’s tail at 15 under par. Sami Valimaki of Finland and Greyson Sigg each shot 62s — Valimaki at Seaside, Sigg at Plantation — to forge a tie at 14 under. Johnny Keefer (64, Plantation) is alone in sixth at 13 under.
Meanwhile, Ghim had a more difficult time Friday and made a double bogey and a bogey over his closing three holes on his way to a 71 at the Plantation Course. He is five back at 11 under.
Brian Harman, Sahith Theegala and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas were among those to miss the 7-under cut line by one stroke.
