AVONDALE: Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry combined to make a pair of crucial late birdies and hung onto a share of the lead after 36 holes of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Friday in Avondale, La.
The Ulsterman and Irishman posted a 2-under-par 70 in foursomes (alternate shot) in the second round. That moved them to 13-under 131, where they are tied with Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard (70 Friday), David Lipsky and England's Aaron Rai (70) and Davis Thompson and Andrew Novak (69). The team event will move back to a four-ball (best ball) format on Saturday before foursomes are played for the final round at TPC Louisiana.
McIlroy and Lowry started their second round on the back nine and had two birdies and two bogeys on their card before sinking consecutive birdies at the par-5 seventh and par-4 eighth. Lowry's bunker shot at No. 8 rolled to within a few feet of the hole to set up the final birdie.