American sits at 13 under with 2 holes remaining at sunset; 19-year-old Brown slips to tied 9th

Trace Krow tees off on the sixth hole during the second round of the PGA Tour's Austin Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]
Trace Krow tees off on the sixth hole during the second round of the PGA Tour's Austin Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]

Trace Krow of the United States is chasing his first PGA Tour victory after taking the lead for the second consecutive day at the Austin Championship, which carries a $6 million purse.

Playing at the Fazio Canyons Course (par 72) at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas, Krow carded four birdies and one bogey through 16 holes in the second round Saturday (Korean Standard Time), moving 3 under for the day.

Krow, who shot a 10-under 62 on Friday to take the first-round lead, stood at 13 under par at the halfway point — one stroke ahead of second-place Kevin Yu of Taiwan, who posted a 6-under round. Play was suspended due to sunset with two holes remaining.

Krow earned his PGA Tour card for this season by finishing inside the top 20 in the Korn Ferry Tour points standings in 2025 and has yet to win on the main tour. He recorded two top-10 finishes this season heading into the event, where he now has his best chance yet at a maiden victory.

Blaze Brown watches play on the ninth hole green during the second round of the PGA Tour's Austin Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]
Blaze Brown watches play on the ninth hole green during the second round of the PGA Tour's Austin Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]

Blaze Brown, the 19-year-old American who won last week's Worldwide Technology Championship in Mexico, saw his momentum slow.

Brown, who opened with a 7-under 65 to share third place, collected five birdies in the second round but offset them with a double bogey and a bogey, finishing the day at 2-under 70. His two-round total of 9-under 135 dropped him into a tie for ninth, four strokes off Krow's lead. He will look to mount a comeback over the final two rounds and claim back-to-back victories.

Players who did not complete the second round due to sunset will finish their remaining holes before the third round begins.


yjc@heraldcorp.com