Pan, Rai share halfway lead in PGA John Deere Classic

LOS ANGELES: C.T. Pan and Aaron Rai defied tough, gusty winds to card eight-under-par 63s on Friday and share the lead heading into the weekend at the PGA Tour John Deere Classic in Illinois.

On 14-under 128, the pair had a one-shot lead over England´s Harry Hall, who had five birdies in a five-under 66 for 129.

Hayden Springer, who carded a spectacular 59 on Thursday, shot an even par 71 and was among half a dozen players sharing fourth on 12-under 130.

Taiwan´s Pan, warming up for the Paris Olympics where he´ll be aiming to improve on the bronze medal he won in Tokyo, was delighted with a bogey-free round in the testing conditions, highlighted by his chip-in for eagle at the 14th.

“I´m actually impressed by myself,” he said. “It´s pretty tough out there when the wind picks up to 15, 20 mph.

“It´s totally opposite wind direction as well, so hitting different tee shot, different clubs and have different numbers for the approach shots,” Pan added. “I was able to hit a lot of good iron shots to give myself birdie chances out there.”

Pan, who claimed his only PGA Tour win to date at the 2019 RBC Heritage, has just one top 10 finish this year -- a tie for third at the Mexico Open.

A solid week is just what he was looking for with the Olympics starting later this month.

“I always want to get my conditioning, get my mental state ready for the Olympics,” he said. “That´s the biggest event for my country and for myself also. “And it would be really cool to play well at an event that only happens once every four years.”