Dufner’s bogey-free 64 nets Colonial lead

Associated Press

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Jason Dufner lists Ben Hogan as his hero.

At Hogan’s Alley, Dufner had the lead halfway through the Colonial with a chance for a Texas two-step that only Hogan has accomplished.

Dufner had a bogey-free 6-under 64 on another windy day Friday to reach 11-under 129. A week after winning the Byron Nelson Championship, Dufner had a two-stroke lead over Zach Johnson — the 2010 winner who shot a 67.

The only player to win both PGA Tour events in the Dallas-Fort Worth market in the same year was Hogan in 1946.

“That would be great company to join, obviously,” Dufner said. “To have anything compared to him or be talked in the same sentence with him is something that would be pretty unique and special to me.”

With the way Dufner is playing these days, his game certainly is in a different class.

Both of Dufner’s PGA Tour victories came in his previous three starts. He has led or shared the lead after 11 of his last 34 rounds.

“When I step to the first tee, I feel like I’m going to play a good round of golf. That’s a nice way to play. It’s a comfortable way to play,” Dufner said. “I’m just trying to be confident and think about the things I’ve been doing for almost a year now, and realize that those are the things that are making me successful out here, and not get too caught up in everything else that’s going on around me.”

Johnson, who had an opening bogey-free 64, started the second round eagle-birdie-bogey. Then there was a four-hole stretch on the back nine when he alternated birdies and bogeys twice.

During today’s third round, Johnson will be paired with his buddy Dufner.

“He’s got a good rhythm about him, about his game right now,” Johnson said. “But it’s irrelevant who I play with. I’m not playing against him. I’m playing against the golf course and the conditions and the elements that are presented. So that’s my focus.”

Two years ago, Johnson set the Colonial tournament scoring record at 21-under 259 en route to the last of his seven PGA Tour victories.

Van Pelt (64) and Tommy Gainey (67) were tied for third at 133, a stroke better than Tom Gillis (69).

Defending Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial champion David Toms shot a 71 and missed the cut at 5-over 145.