GREENVILLE, S.C.
— posted a bogey-free, 7-under-par 65 Friday to move into sole possession of the 36-hole lead at the BMW Charity Pro-Am, an event that features celebrities and amateurs teaming up with Nationwide Tour pros in a best-ball format. Gove birdied two of the final three holes at Carolina Country Club to get to 13-under par and separate himself from the pack in the event that is played on three different courses in two states. Gove, Gomez (68), Mills (66) and Dunlap (67) all played at Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg and will head to Bright’s Creek Country Club in Mill Spring, N.C. for Saturday’s third round. Brigman (67) and Sim (65) were at Bright’s Creek and now shift to Thornblade Club, the host course in Greenville. Dickerson (64) and Summerhays (67) rotate to Carolina Country Club for round three. In the team competition, South Carolina stars and former Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers are at the top of the heap. Thompson and Roger won the celebrity portion of the tournament in 2002 and 2004 and were runners-up in 2003. The former Gamecocks are 27-under par after 36 holes and lead by three over the team of Sim and singer Javier Colon, who was a runner-up last year with Colt Knost. Gove is among the leaders each year in greens in regulation and the former Pepperdine standout hit 16 of 18 during the second round, despite hitting only five fairways. “All around it was a pretty good day,” said the leader. “I didn’t drive the ball quite as well today but my putting is very solid. I’m not focused on being in the lead right now.” The margin is slim over a host of challengers including Mills, who rolled in a pair of birdie putts from 20 feet and another from 40 feet.
“I drove the ball well, which really helped, especially on the par-5s,” he said. “It’s nice to be at the top of the leaderboard but I’m trying not to think about it and just stay patient.”