The 108th US Open took measure of its 156- player field on Friday at Torrey Pines, sending many of the first- round leaders tumbling down the leaderboard, the dpa reported.
Tied for the lead at the start of the day, both Justin Hicks and Kevin Streelman were soon nowhere in sight. At the same time, there were some resilient types and some surprises.
PGA Tour veteran Rocco Mediate continued his good start into a solid second round. After opening with a 2-under-par 69, Mediate was 1-under through 10 holes on Friday and had a share of the in-progress lead at 3-under for the event. Keeping pace was Stuart Appleby, who also opened with a 69 and was 1-under through nine holes of Day Two.
However, the clubhouse lead was shared by 27-year old D J Trahan and 44-year old veteran Davis Love II. Both followed opening 72s with second-round 69s and were 1-under at the 36-hole halfway house.
"I'm not trying to be too serious, but obviously, I feel pretty good," said Trahan, who won the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic earlier this season. "If you're 1-under par through two rounds in a US Open, you're doing something right. I'm just going to try to continue to build on that."
Love had a string of 70 consecutive major championship appearances snapped when he did not make the Masters field in April. Trying to bounce back from ankle surgery, he forced his way into his 18th US Open by qualifying in a 36-hole sectional last week.
On Friday, Love certified his place as he hit 10 of 14 fairways, averaged 313.5 yards driving and needed just 25 putts.
"I'm hitting it pretty far and I'm hitting it pretty solid and I think all I'm really lacking is 100 percent confidence," said the 1997 PGA Championship winner. "I'm getting better and better at that, so I don't think I'm any different except mentally.
Through nine holes of his second round, Lee Westwood also was 1-under for the tournament. Among those in the clubhouse, four more were another stroke back at par-142, including Luke Donald, Robert Allenby, Geoff Ogilvy and Ernie Els.