Ryan Gerard continues hot streak through second round

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COVER PHOTO: Ryan Gerard walks towards his next shot on no. 18 during Wednesday's Pro-Am round of the 51st annual Memorial Tournament. He followed up his five-under par Thursday round with a three-under on Friday. Picture by Angie Greenwood/Columbus Wired.

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The world’s 38th ranked golfer continued to blister the course at the Muirfield Village Golf Club during the 51st annual Memorial Tournament, throwing down a 3-under par, 69, to take an early afternoon three-stroke lead at 8-under.

The second-year pro out of Raleigh, N.C. said the course was more difficult than yesterday. And that would make sense considering he went five-under for his opening round.

“The golf course is playing more difficult today, so I'm excited to be done early,” he said. 

Gerard was one of the earlier pairings off the tee Friday with an 8:25 a.m. start. Conditions were still a little muggy at that point but continued to get hotter as the morning progressed.

“It's not going to continue playing as easy as maybe I got it on the front nine, so I kind of took advantage.”

And that he did, going bogey-free on the front nine with three birdies. However, he went even on the back with two birdies and two bogeys. But he said overall, he’s proud of his performance.

“I kind of grinded from the spots that I put myself in off the tee (and) made a lot of grimey, kind of up-and-downs and really cool kind of, like, hack-outs, and I just felt like I did a good job of keeping myself in the hole.”

As of this writing, Saturday’s tee times and pairings have yet to be announced.