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Sports

Stefani takes 6-shot lead in Florida

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Miami, FL – Shawn Stefani fired a course-record tying 9- under 62 in windy conditions Saturday to jump six strokes clear of the field at the Miccosukee Championship.

Stefani, who won the Midwest Classic two months ago, finished 54 holes at 12- under-par 201. His 62 at Miccosukee Golf & Country Club matched the course record that Jason Dufner set in 2003 and D.A. Points tied in 2008.

Second-round co-leader Christopher DeForest tripped to a 1-over 72 to slip into a share of second place at minus-6. He was joined there by Alistair Presnell, who carded a 2-under 69 on Saturday.

Steve LeBrun, who shared the overnight-lead with DeForest, faltered to a 2- over 73 and dropped into fourth place at 5-under-par 208.

Andrew Svoboda and Kevin Tway both shot 4-under 67 to move into a share of fifth at minus-4. They were joined there by Nicholas Thompson (68), Travis Hampshire (69) and Russell Henley (69).

Stefani was on fire right from the start. He converted back-to-back birdie efforts at the second and third. After a par on No. 4, Stefani eagled the par-5 fifth to jump to 7-under.

The 30-year-old followed that with birdies on six and seven. That spurt of going 6-under for six holes gave him a 1-stroke lead at minus-9.

"I thought it was a bit humorous today. It was just one of those days where everything went right," Stefani admitted. "After No. 6, I just started laughing. To be 5-under par after six in these conditions was pretty amazing. It just seemed like every putt wanted to go in."

Stefani parred his next two holes to post a 6-under 29 on the front side, which matched the best front nine in tournament history. He converted the fifth birdie of his round at the par-5 10th.

After four more pars, LeBrun had moved within two of the lead. However, Stefani birdied the 15th and 16th to push his lead to five as LeBrun bogeyed the 12th.

Stefani parred the final two holes to lead by six as his closest competitors struggled down the stretch.

"This has got to be the best round I've ever played," stated Stefani. "I shot a 60 at the Texas State Open last year, but it wasn't the Web.com Tour."

NOTES: Stefani had the low round of the day by five strokes...With a chance of rain on Sunday, officials moved up the tee times to 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. ET with players going off split tees in threesomes.