De Jonge takes 1-shot lead at Innisbrook

Brendon de Jonge blasts from the sand trap near the first green during the second round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Friday, March 13, 2015, at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Brendon de Jonge blasts from the sand trap near the first green during the second round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Friday, March 13, 2015, at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

By Associated Press March 13, 2015 1 min read

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Brendon de Jonge rolled in two long putts on his way to a 2-under 69 for the 36-hole lead Friday in the Valspar Championship.

Halfway home, it felt like a long way to go considering all the players behind him. The Copperhead course at Innisbrook is such a demanding test that the players who made the cut on the number were still only seven shots behind.

De Jonge rolled in a 50-foot birdie putt on No. 7 and finished with a birdie on the uphill ninth hole for a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Ryan Moore, Derek Ernst and Kevin Streelman.

Lucas Glover, Sean O’Hair and Ian Poulter were two shots behind.

De Jonge, who has never won on the PGA Tour, was at 6-under 136.