Daily Wrap-up: Round 2, Travelers Championship

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CROMWELL, Conn. -- Nineteen-year-old UCLA star Patrick Cantlay has insisted he has no intention of leaving school early to join the PGA TOUR.

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But the low amateur last week in the U.S. Open softened his stance just a little Friday after shooting a course-record 10-under 60 -- the lowest PGA TOUR round ever by an amateur -- to take a four-stroke lead in the Travelers Championship.

"I'm going to stay amateur definitely for the Walker Cup (in September), and my plan is to stay amateur until I finish college," he said.

Taking advantage of preferred lies at soggy TPC River Highlands, Cantlay tied the tournament record set by Tommy Bolt when the event was played in Wethersfield in 1954.

Cantlay birdied the final two holes to reach 13 under. After shooting a 67 on Friday morning in the rain-delayed first round, he had eight birdies and an eagle in the afternoon. It was his second eagle of the day on the par-5 13th.

He said he had no idea that he was setting an amateur record.

"I knew where I was. I knew I needed to make eagle on 18 for 59," he said. "It's tough to hole it from 152."

But he came close. His approach landed just above the hole and rolled back to just over 2 feet below the pin.

"I thought it had a chance, it was covering the flag pretty good," he said. "It takes some luck."

D.J. Trahan (62), Webb Simpson (65) Alexandre Rocha (66) and Vaughn Taylor (66) were tied for second along with Andres Romero who had completed five holes when play was suspended because of darkness just after 8 p.m. Seventy-seven players are scheduled to complete the second round Saturday.

Players had perfect scoring conditions Friday with rain-softened greens and little wind. And because of the wet conditions, players were allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls hit in the fairway, another big advantage. The projected cut line was 3-under par.

"A day like today, play good in the first round, you just kind of keep it going," Taylor said. "Generally, your swing feels the same and your game feels the same, so you just kind of stay in it and just keep playing."

An amateur hasn't won a PGA TOUR event since Phil Mickelson in the 1991 Northern Telecom Open in Arizona. If Cantlay wins, he would have 60 days to decide whether to accept a spot on the TOUR and the two-year exemption that goes with it.

Cantlay just completed his freshman year at UCLA, and said he still plans to stay until he earns his degree.

"I'm going to stay amateur definitely for the Walker Cup, and my plan is to stay amateur until I finish college," he said.

Four players have shot 61s at the TPC River Highlands course. The last was Kenny Perry in 2009.

TOUR rookie Jim Renner shot 29 on his first nine holes and finished his first round with a 63, good enough for a one-stroke lead heading into the afternoon.

But he started his second round with a bogey, a par and a double bogey and finished the day at 3-under.

Renner had played in just one TOUR event before this season and earned his card though qualifying school. He grew up in Plainville, Mass., and said this tournament was the first PGA TOUR event he ever attended.

"I think I walked about four holes and realized I was ready to go home," he said. "I was 14."

The shot of the day came from Heath Slocum, who holed a 160-yard shot across the water to eagle the signature 17th hole. He finished his two rounds at 7 under.

But Cantlay stole the show, and received a standing ovation from the sparse crowd as he walked up the 18th fairway.

"It's just one round," he said. "It was a good round, and I played really well. Nothing bad happened. I'm really proud of it, but I've got a couple more rounds to play."

TPC River Highlands: Friday

EASIEST HOLE TOUGHEST HOLE The par-5 13th hole was the easiest with a Friday scoring average of 4.552. EAGLES: 9 BIRDIES: 73 PARS: 52 BOGEYS: 18 OTHER: 2 The par-4 4th hole was the toughest with a Friday scoring average of 4.351. EAGLES: 0 BIRDIES: 4 PARS: 94 BOGEYS: 54 OTHERS: 2

About the leader

• Patrick Cantlay eagled the par-5 13th hole twice on Friday - first en route to an opening-round 3-under 67 and again later in the afternoon en route to setting the TPC River Highlands course record and equaling the Travelers Championship low 18-hole score (Tommy Bolt, 1954, Wethersfield CC) with a 10-under 60. • Prior to Cantlay's 60, the previous-best round at TPC River Highlands was 61, set by Kirk Triplett (R3, 2000), Phil Mickelson (R3, 2001), Scott Verplank (R4, 2001), Brad Faxon (R4, 2005) and Kenny Perry (R1, 2009). • Cantlay's 60 is the lowest round ever by an amateur on the PGA TOUR. By comparison, Tiger Woods posted his best round as an amateur at the 1996 British Open with a second-round 66 (finished T22). He then turned pro a month and a half later in his next start at the Greater Milwaukee Open. Phil Mickelson carded a first- and third-round 65 on his way to winning the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. • Cantlay's 60 is the 24th in PGA TOUR history and first since J.B. Holmes at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic (R3). There have been five 59s, most recently Stuart Appleby at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic (R4). • Cantlay is seeking to become the first amateur winner on the PGA TOUR since Phil Mickelson won the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. Here's a look at the last three amateurs to win a PGA TOUR event: Phil Mickelson (1991 Northern Telecom Open), Scott Verplank (1985 Western Open), Doug Sanders (1956 Canadian Open) • Cantlay will be 19 years, three months and nine days old on Sunday, which would make him the youngest winner in PGA TOUR history. The current distinction is held by Johnny McDermott, who won the 1911 U.S. Open at the age of 19 years, 10 months and 14 days. • Cantlay earned low amateur honors at last week's U.S. Open (T21) - his first career start on the PGA TOUR. • Jim Grant's T2 in 1964 is the best finish by an amateur at the Travelers Championship. • An amateur has led twice previously at the Travelers Championship. In 1961, amateur Robert Allen shared the first-round lead with Bob Goetz and eventually finished 62nd. In 1953, amateur Frank Stranahan shared the third-round lead with Jim Ferrier and Bob Toski before finishing T7. • Should he win on Sunday, Cantlay would have 60 days to accept membership on the PGA TOUR, which would run until the end of the 2013 season. If that deadline passes, he could then join the TOUR at the end of the 2011 season (and have two years remaining) or at the end of the 2012 season (and have one year remaining). Cantlay recently finished his freshman season at UCLA. • Even without membership on TOUR, a win would gain Cantlay entrance into the following events in 2011: AT&T National (is currently in the field via a sponsor's exemption) and the PGA Championship. He would then have a spot in the following events in 2012: Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Bob Hope Classic, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Masters Tournament, RBC Heritage, THE PLAYERS Championship, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and the Memorial Tournament. A non-member is allowed 12 starts in a season, with a maximum of seven sponsor's exemptions among that total. • Cantlay's 13-under 127 is currently the second-best first 36-hole score on TOUR this season, behind only David Toms' 124 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. • Should an amateur win on the PGA TOUR, first-place FedExCup points are eliminated and first-place money goes to the runner-up.