U.S. Open golf: Russell Henley, Richard Bland tied for Round 2 lead

June 18 (UPI) -- Russell Henley and Richard Bland are entering the weekend tied for first at 5-under 137 after the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament Friday at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

Bland, a 48-year-old from England, had a 4-under 67 and walked off the course at the top of the leaderboard in just his fourth major.

Henley had an opportunity to build a two-shot lead when he faced an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth hole. He missed the shot, then watched his 2-foot par putt spin out of the cup. That gave him a 70 on the second day to join Bland at 5-under par for the tournament.

2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen (71), coming off a runner-up finish in the PGA Championship, and Matthew Wolff (68), last year's U.S. Open runner-up at Winged Foot, both were one shot back of Bland and Henley.

Two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson (67) and Jon Rahm (70), a previous winner at Torrey Pines and former world No. 1, were tied for fifth at 3-under par heading into the third round.

Defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and his heated rival, Brooks Koepka, were at even-par 142, only five strokes behind the lead. Justin Thomas (69) and Collin Morikawa (67) also were at even par.

"Most times if I'm five back going into a Saturday, I need to probably make 12, 15-plus birdies on the weekend to hang in there," Thomas said. "But this is a U.S. Open. It's a little bit different."

Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy were headed in the wrong direction on the second day of the tournament. Johnson, who failed to make the cut in the Masters and the PGA Championship, slipped to 4-over par until a late rally gave him a 73 and entry into the weekend.

Similarly, McIlroy had to card two birdies down the stretch for a 73. Johnson was seven behind, while McIlroy was six back of the lead.

The weekend also will include Phil Mickelson, who finished with a birdie for a second-round 69. He was at 2-over par and seven shots back in his quest to complete the career Grand Slam.

Justin Rose, Webb Simpson, Tony Finau, Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson were among those who didn't make the cut at 4-over par.