Fishburn leads, high drama for Dahmen in PGA Classic
PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn played bogey-free for an eight-under 64 for his first lead after any round, but nobody was more happy than Joel Dahmen 10 shots back in the field.
The drama of Friday’s second round at the RSM Classic unfolded on his last hole when Dahmen made a five-foot par putt for a two-under 68 in tough conditions brought on by the wind and cold.
It allowed him to make the cut on the number. More importantly, it also gave him two more days to secure his PGA Tour card for next year as he is No.124 in the FedEx Cup.
The Classic is the final tournament of the PGA Tour season, and only the top 125 in the FedEx Cup have full status in 2025.
Dahmen hit wedge to two feet on the 16th that put him on the cut line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the green some 40 feet away. But he lagged woefully short, leaving himself a testy five-footer with his job on the line.
“It was a great putt. I was very nervous,” Dahmen said. “But there’s still work to do.
“It wasn’t the game-winner, it was like the half-court shot to get us to half-time. But without that, and the way I played today, I wouldn’t have anything this weekend.”
Fishburn took advantage of being on the easier Plantation course, with trees blocking the brunt of the wind and two additional par 5s. He also was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the tougher Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his round and having to settle for a 70.
Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for next year, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the only player who had to face Seaside on Friday who was among the top five.
What mattered on this day, however, was far down the leaderboard.
That’s more critical than ever with the tour only taking the top 100 for full cards after next season. Players like Dahmen will need full status to get as many playing opportunities as they can.
That explains why he felt so much pressure on a Friday. He didn’t make a bogey after his opening hole and was battling temperatures in the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard hole.
His playing partners weren’t so fortunate. The tour put three in danger of losing their cards in the same group – Zac Blair (No.123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No.125).
Blair and Bryan came to the 18th hole needing birdie to make the one-under cut but both narrowly missed. Now they have to wait to see if anyone passes them, which is typically the case.
Australian Aaron Baddeley, who is No.166 in the rankings, had a 73 and finished at two over.
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