PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — England’s Marco Penge turned a busy day into a share of the lead at the midway point of the Genesis Invitational on Friday by reaching 12-under par at Riviera Country Club.
Forced to play 27 holes after he resumed his first round early Saturday morning, Penge shot 9 under on the day and delivered a 7-under 64 during his second round to join Jacob Bridgeman (64) atop the leaderboard.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (65) was alone in third place at 11 under, while Australia’s Adam Scott (63) and Xander Schauffele (65) were tied for fourth at 9 under. Scott needed a birdie at the par-4 No. 18 to tie the course record of 61 but closed with a bogey.
A total of 30 players still needed to complete their first round Friday morning. They were on the course during the first round Thursday when play was halted because of darkness following a three-hour rain delay,
While Bridgeman finished his first round Friday, Penge’s full 27-hold day included 11 birdies and two bogeys. Bridgeman started his second round with an eagle 3 at the first hole, then finished with three consecutive birdies to catch Penge.
McIlroy had three birdies on his front nine Friday before an eagle 3 at No. 11 and a birdie at 17 to finish one shot off the pace. Scott had a pair of eagles at Nos. 1 and 11. He was 5 under on a five-hole stretch from Nos. 9-13.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (68) made a 7-foot par putt at 18 to make the cut on the number at even par. It is his 68th consecutive made cut. Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68), the defending champion, is tied for 25th place at 2 under.
The Genesis Invitational is making its return to Riviera after it was played in the San Diego area at Torrey Pines last season following a destructive wildfire that destroyed much of the neighborhood just north of the golf course in January of last year.
