Knox shoots 59; leads by 1 in Boise

Boise, ID – For the second time in under three weeks, a Web.com Tour player fired a historical 59.

Russell Knox turned the trick on Friday as his 12-under 59 at Hillcrest Country Club helped him take a 1-shot lead at the halfway point of the Boise Open.

Knox finished 36 holes at 14-under-par 128. He missed the tournament's 36-hole scoring record by one stroke.

Two Sundays ago, Will Wilcox fired the fourth 59 in Tour history. Knox and Wilcox are now in a group of five players, that also includes Jason Gore, Doug Dunakey and Notah Begay III, that have shot 59 on the Web.com Tour.

"This is a dream come true. Everyone wants to have a chance to break 60 and this was my day," Knox stated. "I don't think you ever feel a 59 coming on. I definitely pictured myself playing well, but you can never plan for a 59."

Jamie Lovemark carded a 9-under 62 in round two to climb into a share of second place at minus-13. He was joined there by Bronson La'Cassie (63) and first-round co-leader Hunter Haas (67).

Steven Alker, who shared the first-round lead with Haas, posted a 3-under 68. He shares fifth place with Chad Collins (65), Mark D. Anderson (65) and Erik Flores (63).

Knox started his round with a birdie on No. 10. He parred the next four holes though. At the 15th, Knox converted a birdie chance and followed with an eagle on the 16th.

The 2011 Chiquita Classic winner moved to 5-under for his round with a birdie on the par-3 17th. Knox parred the 18th and first before pouring in a 50- footer for eagle at two.

"I had a par-save on No. 1 that was pretty good. That eagle got things going," Knox admitted. "It was probably the longest putt I've made all year. The rest is just a blur."

The rest was a cluster of five straight birdies from the third that jumped him to 12-under for his round.

"I've barely made anything all year and then to have four in a row of length go in was really nice. To have to par the last two holes is difficult," Knox said.

He parred the eighth from about 50 feet out. At the ninth, his last, Knox found sand off the tee. He hit the green with his approach, but left himself well over 50 feet for birdie.

Knox rolled his birdie chance seven feet right of the hole. He calmly rolled that putt in for par and the 59.

"You just can't miss that putt, it's that simple. I don't know how many chances I'll ever get to shoot 59. Missing wasn't an option. It was going in," said Knox.

Haas mixed seven birdies and three bogeys in his round of 67. Lovemark mixed seven birdies and an eagle in his round of 62, while La'Cassie rolled in eight birdies for his 63.

NOTES: The previous course record at Hillcrest Country Club was 61. Along with the 59, there have been four 62s this week ... Chris Smith had three eagles in his second round, at the second, 15th and 16th ... The cut line fell at six- under 136, which is the lowest in tournament history, and 75 players moved on to the weekend.