NAPA, Calif. — Brendan Steele shot 2-under 70, seven shots worse than his opening round, but hung onto the lead through two rounds at the PGA Tour's season-opening Frys.com Open at Silverado Country Club.
A day after shooting bogey-free 63, Steele had five birdies and three bogeys on his way to a two-round total of 11-under 133.
Harold Varner III, who joins Tiger Woods as the only players of black heritage on the PGA Tour this year, continued a strong rookie debut with a round of 2-under 70. He is tied for second, two strokes behind Steele.
Will Wilcox (67), Jhonattan Vegas (71), and Graham DeLaet (68) were also tied for second at 135.
Another four golfers were three strokes behind Steele including former U.S. Open champion Justin Rose.
Rory McIlroy, the world's No. 3 player, had two birdies and a bogey on his way to 1-under 71 and was at 139, tied for 19th, as was former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
This is only McIlroy's fifth tournament dating to the PGA Championship, when he returned from a two-month hiatus to heal his injured ankle.
Sang-moon Bae, unable to defend because of his mandatory military service in South Korea, won last year at Silverado at 15-under.
LPGA: Lydia Ko took the lead at the in the KEB Hana Bank Championship at Incheon, South Korea. Ko, a Korean-born New Zealander, made an 18-foot birdie on the final hole for 7-under 65 and 10-under 134 total, a stroke ahead of Lexi Thompson. Sung Hyun Park followed her course-record 62 with a 74 to drop two shots behind. Ko, ranked second, can overtake Inbee Park at No. 1 with a victory. Park replaced Ko atop the list in June with the first of her two major victories this year. "The closer we get or if there is a switch, the media is going to talk about it," Ko said. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to try and ignore you guys. I think that's the best way. Because when I'm out there, I'm just trying to hit a good shot and put myself in good position. If I thought about the rankings, the awards, it's just way too much. It's hard enough just trying to hit the ball straight out there."
Champions: Wes Short birdied three of the last four holes for 5-under 67 and a one-stroke lead after one round in the San Antonio Championship in Texas. He led Paul Goydos, Jeff Sluman, Stephen Ames, Duffy Waldorf and Scott Dunlap by a stroke.
Europe: England's Andy Sullivan shot 7-under 64 for a second straight day to take a three-shot lead at the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura. Padraig Harrington (70) and Martin Kaymer (70) were both 12 strokes out at 140.