Irving, TX – It was not nearly as good as his opening round, but Keegan Bradley remained atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the Byron Nelson Championship thanks to a 1-under 69 on Friday.
Bradley, the 2011 champion, finished 36 holes at 11-under-par 129, which was one off the tournament's 36-hole scoring record. He is looking for his second win at this event, and fourth on the PGA Tour.
Tom Gillis fired a 7-under 63 to move into a share of second place at minus-8. He was joined there by Sang-Moon Bae, who posted a 4-under 66 on Friday.
Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel managed an even-par 70 in round two and dipped into a tie for fourth at 7-under-par 133. He stands alongside John Huh (64) and Ryan Palmer (68) at the TPC Four Seasons Resort.
This year's Masters runner-up Angel Cabrera (69) is one of six players tied at minus-6.
Bradley stumbled out of the gate as he missed the fairway at one, and came up short of the green with his approach. He chipped to six feet, but 2-putted for an opening bogey.
The 2011 PGA Champion atoned for that mistake with a 9-foot birdie effort on the fourth. Another poor drive at the sixth cost Bradley another stroke. He quickly erased an error with a 2-putt birdie on the par-5 seventh,
Bradley sank a 9-footer for birdie on the 10th, then parred his next five holes. At the par-5 16th, he knocked his second to 45 feet and 2-putted for birdie.
That got Bradley to 12-under par, but it wouldn't last. On No. 18, he missed the green in the chipping area left. He pitched to six feet, but failed to convert the par-saving putt.
"I'm almost more proud of this round than yesterday because I didn't feel comfortable all day. I don't know what it was," Bradley admitted. "I can't put my finger on it. I was a little uncomfortable and then I settled in and hit some really good shots."
Gillis, a former winner on the Web.com Tour, drained a 13-footer for birdie on the 12th to kick off a hot stretch. He followed with a 32-foot birdie putt at 13 and dropped his approach inside 12 feet at the 14th and drained that for his third birdie in a row.
The 44-year-old converted a 17-foot birdie try at 16 and made the turn at minus-6 thanks to a 12-foot birdie putt at the 18th.
On the front nine, Gillis birdied the second and fifth, both from nine feet out. He moved to 9-under with a short birdie putt at the seventh. However, he gave that stroke back as he 2-putted for bogey from nine feet out at the ninth, his last.
"I felt like I was back to the old stuff, normal, the way it was. I think that relaxed me, and when you're relaxed, you play good," said Gillis about returning to his old coach after missing his last five cuts.
Bae started his round by sinking a 15-footer for birdie on the 10th. He parred the next six holes before making a mess of the par-3 17th. Bae dropped a shot there, but bounced back with a 4-foot birdie putt at 18.
Around the turn, Bae rolled in an 11-foot birdie try at the second and followed with a 20-footer for birdie on the third. He birdied the fifth, but gave that shot right back as he 3-putted for bogey on the sixth.
Bae closed his round in style as he converted a 13-foot birdie chance to grab a share of second place.
NOTES: 14-year-old amateur Tianlang Guan missed the cut after struggling to a 77 in round two ... Former Masters winner Mike Weir posted his second straight 2-under 68. That was significant because it was the first time in nearly three years the he carded back-to-back rounds in the 60s ... After heavy rain on Wednesday, players once again played preferred lies on Friday ... The cut line fell at even-par 140 with 83 players making the cut ... Among those failing to make the weekend were Jeff Maggert, 2005 runner-up Sean O'Hair, Y.E. Yang, Ben Curtis and 2006 runner-up Trevor Immelman ... Since more than 78 players made the cut, there will be an additional cut after Saturday's third round to the top 70 and ties.
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