Leishman, Scott on fire at PGA’s Sony Open

P – Marc Leishman shot the round of the day to be one stroke behind leader Brian Stuard at the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii, while Adam Scott also clambered further up the leaderboard on Friday.

Leishman’s six-under 64 left him tied second alongside Hideto Tanihara at nine-under 131 after two rounds, while Scott’s four-under 66 gave him an overall score of seven-under 133 and a good chance of reeling in Stuard and grabbing his first tournament win of 2014.

Stuard fired successive 65s to lead the pack at 130.

But Scott, Leishman and compatriot Greg Chalmers (six-under 134 after a second round of 66) gave him plenty to think about overnight.

World No.2 Scott continued a productive partnership with big wave surfer Benji Weatherley, who is standing in for regular caddie Steve Williams.

With 11-time world surfing champion and friend Kelly Slater in the gallery for the final hour, Weatherley showed great confidence talking Scott out of a driver on the 18th hole.

“He’s really getting the hang of it,” Scott said.

The advice seemed to work as Scott finished with a tap-in birdie after his approach shot hit the flag.

“I have no nerves because for one, he’s so good it’s embarrassing,” Weatherley said.

Scott is a keen surfer and had gone bodysurfing with Weatherley on the famed North Shore of Oahu in the lead up to the tournament.

Leishman’s highlight was an eagle on the ninth hole, while he made a 25-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole.

“They’re the sort of things that really turn an average round into a good one, or a good one into a great one,” said Leishman, who carded five birdies in total.

“It was nice to shoot six-under and get myself right in it.”

Stuard has now had seven straight rounds in the 60s at Waialae dating to his first trip here in 2010.

“It’s something to do with the greens,” Stuard said.

“I feel comfortable on the greens. I feel like I read them pretty well and I’m able to make putts.”

Australian Robert Allenby is tied 25th after consecutive 68s.

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