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Overton takes control at Greenbrier
American Jeff Overton, bidding for his maiden PGA Tour title, charged into a commanding four-shot lead in the second round of the Greenbrier Classic at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on Friday.
A stroke off the pace overnight, Overton fired a flawless eight-under-par 62 to post a 14-under total of 126 on the Old White Course at The Greenbrier.
Helped by a run of four consecutive birdies around the turn, the 27-year-old ended a day of low scoring four ahead of compatriot and double PGA Tour winner Boo Weekley (63).
Double heart-transplant recipient Erik Compton, co-leader overnight, carded a 68 to lie five shots off the pace with fellow American Jimmy Walker (64).
Overton, who has recorded three top-three finishes in his last six PGA Tour starts, made a sizzling start with two birdies in the first three holes after teeing off at the par-four 10th.
He picked up further shots on 16, 17 and 18 to reach the turn in five-under 31 before stretching further ahead of the field with birdies at the first, fourth and fifth.
"I'm playing well, I don't really know the last time I was playing with this much confidence," Overton told reporters. "I'm also feeling very comfortable.
COMFORT LEVEL
"I've always been a pretty confident golfer -- you have to be to get to this level -- but I just feel more and more comfortable the more I'm out here ... and seeing my name on the leaderboard."
Asked how anxious he was to claim his first PGA Tour title after finishing second on three previous occasions, he replied: "I would love to win a golf tournament. You just never know when it's your time. You just got to continue to play every shot, take it for what it's worth, and live in the moment."
US Ryder Cup player Weekley, who has struggled for form this season due to a shoulder injury, held the early lead at 10 under before being eclipsed by Overton late in the day.
"I'm actually feeling pretty good," Weekley said after carding a blemish-free round featuring seven birdies. "At the John Deere (Classic), I started feeling a little better about my game.
"I've lost about 20 pounds of weight and kind of got my shoulder feeling a little better. I'm excited to play again. It feels like I can actually come out and compete and I don't have to take a bunch of Advil."
World number five Jim Furyk, bidding for his third PGA Tour victory of the year, returned a 65 to end the day in a nine-way tie for ninth place at seven under -- seven off the lead.
The cut fell at two-under 138 with former major winners Trevor Immelman of South Africa and Americans David Toms, Todd Hamilton and Lee Janzen among those missing out.
