Rookie Carson Young builds four-shot edge in Puerto Rico

PGA Tour rookie Carson Young opened up a four-stroke lead through two rounds of the Puerto Rico Open on Friday in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Young followed Thursday's 63 with a 5-under 67 to reach 14-under 130, tying the 36-hole tournament record.

Young leads Paul Haley II (66 Friday) and Colombian Nico Echavarria (67) comfortably as he aims for his first win on tour in just his 14th career start.

Young started his round on the back nine at Grand Reserve Golf Club and holed five birdies in his first 12 holes. He had two bogeys and two birdies the rest of the way, including a bogey on the par-4 ninth to wrap up.

63-67 ??

Carson Young leads by FOUR @PuertoRicoOpen. pic.twitter.com/AuBuBHP6Bc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2023

"I didn't quite have it like I did yesterday obviously, but it was still good," Young said. "My tee shots weren't quite the way I wanted them today, I got into trouble a good bit, but my short game really saved me today. I holed a bunker shot and had a bunch of really good par saves today that really got me going."

Young, 28, had three eagles in his opening round. He also started last week's Honda Classic with a 5-under 65 to share the first-round lead before finishing tied for 29th.

This week, at an alternate event opposite the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Young is in much better shape to finish the job.

"I'm going to just reset like I'm even par again and go out there and try to play my best and win each day. That's my goal," he said.

Echavarria piled up an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys for his 67, while Haley signed a bogey-free card with six birdies. The 35-year-old journeyman recently regained PGA Tour status after grinding on the Korn Ferry Tour; Haley's only top-25 finish of the season came in September, a T12 at the season-opening Fortinet Championship.

"It's been frustrating just because it's like one day I'll putt good and the next day I won't make anything," Haley said. "This is the first time in a while where I've had two really good days in a row of good putting."

Harry Higgs matched the low round of the day with an 8-under 64 to move into fourth at 9 under.