Birdies dry up on back nine, but Lahiri moves up to T-36

India's Anirban Lahiri looked all set to go low as he went three-under through the front nine at the RSM Classic golf tournament here.

Lahiri, four-under for the first day, must have been looking for a really low score to get somewhere closer to upper part of the leader board in a tournament that has produced very good scoring.

But on the back nine, the birdies dried up and the next one did not come till the very last hole, the 18th, at the Sea Island Resort's Seaside Course.

In between he dropped a bogey on 13th. So he ended at 69 and is now seven-under 135 and in Tied-36th place, which was still five spots above where he was after first day.
 

This is Lahiri's third start on PGA in the new season after the tied third finish in CIMB Classic and T-28 in Mayakoba.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie Hughes, who is just five events into his rookie season on the PGA, took the 36-hole lead.

Hughes had another bogey-free round yesterday and took care of the par 5s on the Plantation Course for a 5-under 67, giving him a two-shot lead over another rookie, former World No. 1 amateur, C T Pan going into the weekend.

Hughes was at 14-under 128.

Pan is also a rookie, and can take inspiration from rookie Cody Gribble winning in Mississippi three weeks ago.

Hughes and Pan both spent last year on the Web. Com Tour to earn their cards.

Tournament host Davis Love III and Sea Island neighbours Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar missed the cut.