Brandt Snedeker hit the front after the second round of the Safeway Open, where Phil Mickelson is three shots off the pace.
American Snedeker birdied his final two holes for a seven-under-par 65 and a three-stroke lead at Silverado Resort on Friday.
The nine-time PGA Tour champion – who won the Wyndham Championship in August – had eight birdies and a bogey to improve to 13-under at the halfway stage of the tournament in Napa, California.
"I played really solid golf all the way around. I only played two bad shots all day. My speed has been great for two days. These greens can get away from you if you're not paying attention," Snedeker said.
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Mickelson, Ryan Moore and Michael Thompson are Snedeker's nearest challengers heading into the weekend. Ryder Cup participant Mickelson – who featured in the United States' unsuccessful campaign against Europe in Paris – followed up his first-round 65 with a 69 to be in contention.
"I'm cautiously optimistic. It's certainly turning from pessimistic because I didn't think that I was going to be here on the weekend and the next thing you know I'm up on top of the leaderboard," Mickelson said.
First-round leader and Tour rookie Sepp Straka – making his first start – dropped down the leaderboard – the Austrian shooting a 72 to be four strokes back and tied for fifth.
Brendan Steele's bid for three successive Safeway Open titles remain alive, though he is seven-under after posting a 71 on Friday.
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