LAS VEGAS, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Kevin Na, who earlier this year needed 16 shots to finish a single hole, shared the lead Friday at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Na joined Jhonattan Vegas and Charlie Wi at the top after 36 holes of the first of the four PGA Tour Fall Finish tournaments. On a typical day of low scoring at the TPC-Summerlin course, Hunter Haas flirted with a 59 before shooting a 61 and Na turned in a 63 that included seven birdies on the back nine.
Wi shot a 66 and Vegas, seeking his second victory in his rookie season, had a 67.
The three leaders stood at 12-under 130. Tied for fourth at 131 were Brendan Steele, Tim Herron and Kris Blanks.
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Haas was among those at 132 after a round that included an eagle at the par-4 15th. Haas began on the back nine and made the turn in 6-under 30. He then birdied four of the first five holes on the front side and needed two birdies over the last four to shoot 59. A bogey at the par-4 sixth wiped out those hopes.
Na has finished in the Top 10 on five occasions this year, including a tie for 10th at the PGA Championship, as he seeks his first PGA Tour victory.
He received his largest share of publicity this year, however, in April for his struggles on the par-4 ninth hole at the TPC-San Antonio course during the opening round of the Texas Open.
He hit his tee shot deep into a thicket of trees to the left of the fairway and he kept trying to get the ball out of trouble. He hit shot after shot in the trees before finally escaping. When the round was over he watched a television replay of the incident in an attempt to determine how many shots he had taken.
Na and the officials finally decided the correct number was 16. He played the other 17 holes in 4-under and wound up shooting an 80.
