ON THE LINKS More pro golf from Friday

RSM CLASSIC

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA.

Five tournaments into his rookie season on the PGA Tour, Mackenzie Hughes has the 36-hole lead at Sea Island and expects a few nerves. That weekend he spent with Phil Mickelson should at least help. Hughes had another bogey-free round Friday and took care of the par 5s on the Plantation Course for a 5-under 67, giving him a two-shot lead over C.T. Pan going into the weekend of the RSM Classic, the final PGA Tour event of the year. Hughes at was at 14-under 128. Pan also is a rookie, and perhaps they can take inspiration from rookie Cody Gribble winning in Mississippi three weeks ago. Hughes and Pan both spent last year on the Web.com Tour to earn their cards. Hughes started his rookie season in the Safeway Open, made the cut and wound up in the same group with Mickelson, who attracted the largest gallery.

CME GROUP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

NAPLES, FLA.

Lydia Ko shot a tournament-record 10-under 62 to take a three-stroke lead in the CME Group Tour Championship, putting the top-ranked New Zealander in position to win the player of the year award with a victory Sunday. The 2014 winner at Tiburon Golf Club, Ko birdied four of the first six holes and had seven birdies and a bogey on the back nine to get to 12-under 132 in the season finale. Ryann O’Toole (67) and So Yeon Ryu (68) were tied for second, and Sei Young Kim (68) and Beatriz Recari (68) followed at 8 under.

DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

DUBAI, UAE

Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Italy’s Francesco Molinari shared the lead in the European Tour’s season-ending World Tour Championship. They each shot 5-under 67 to reach 9-under 135 at Jumeirah’s Earth Course. First-round leader Lee Westwood of England was a stroke back after a 70. Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson stayed in touch with his rivals for the season points title. The Swede shot a 69 to reach 3 under, the same as No. 2 Danny Willett (70), and one behind compatriot Alex Noren (69). Rory McIlroy was 1 under after a 68.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

SYDNEY

Australia’s James Nitties played his final nine holes in 29 for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke lead in the Australian Open. Nitties, ranked 732nd in the world, had a 9-uneer 135 total at Royal Sydney. New Zealand’s Ryan Fox was second after his second 68.

Associated Press