Alistair Docherty takes second-round lead at AdventHealth Championship

Things to know

• Alistair Docherty claims his first outright lead in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event.
• Through 36 holes, Docherty has logged 12 birdies and one eagle against just one bogey.
• Second-year member Ryan Gerard is in solo second after carding 6-under 66s in each of the first two rounds.
• Open qualifier Tanner Gore ties the low round of the day with a 7-under 65.
• Eighteen-hole co-leader Jeff Overton records a second-round 3-under 69 and sits two shots behind the leader.
• The 36-hole cut was made at 4-under par with 80 professionals making it to the weekend.
• Third-round groupings will run from 6:40 a.m. to 12 p.m. local time off the first tee.

Second-round lead notes

• 7 – Second-round leaders/co-leaders to win the AdventHealth Championship: Trevor Cone (2022), Cameron Young (2021), Sepp Straka (2018), Martin Pillar (2015), Zach Sucher (2014), James Nitties (2011), Michael Sim (2009)
• 2 – Second-round leaders/co-leaders to win on Tour in 2024: Isaiah Salinda (The Panama Championship) and Steven Fisk (Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club)

Alistair Docherty (Leader/13-under)

• Earns his first career lead/co-lead after any round in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned start (55 total starts)
• Carded a second-round bogey-free 6-under 66 via an eagle at the par 5 first along with four birdies
• Marks a career best 36-hole total score of 131
• Only has recorded one bogey through two rounds this week (R1/par-3 14th)
• Entered the week fresh off a runner-up finish at the Myrtle Beach Classic last weekend on the PGA TOUR, where he made the start as a sponsor exemption
  • With the top-10 finish, Docherty earned a start at the PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian Open in two weeks
• Has seven Korn Ferry Tour starts this season and logged one top-25 finish (T20/LECOM Suncoast Classic)
• In 39 career starts on the Korn Ferry Tour since 2020, has tallied five top-25 finishes and one top 10
  • Best finish is a T7 at the 2023 Magnit Championship
• Last season, logged 24 Korn Ferry Tour starts and recorded three top 25s; finished the 2023 season ranked 86th on the Points List
• Played four seasons at Chico State (California State University-Chico), an NCAA Division II program, garnering three All-America honors (First Team in 2014 and 2016; Second Team in 2015)
  • Earned medalist honors at the 2015 California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships, and received the 2016 CCAA Player of the Year award
• Represented the United States at the 2016 Arnold Palmer Cup in Formby, England
• Plays from Vancouver, Washington, and now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona

Quotables

• Docherty on what’s worked best this week:“Putter's staying hot. My short game's been saving me a little bit here and there and that kind of just keeps the flow of the round going. I haven't hit it great off the tee, but I've been in the right spots in the rough, and judging the lies for the most part pretty well. Yeah, we're putting ourselves in good spots and taking advantage at some points.”
• Docherty on what has changed the most in the last two weeks:“I just believe in myself. I always had the doubt in my mind and I was playing very conservative. Now I'm able to trust myself and hit the shots I know I'm able to hit. Yeah, it's just belief.”
• Docherty on if this is the most confident he’s felt in his game:“I mean, I had a lot of confidence in college and during the summer of junior golf and amateur golf. I feel great now. I know I've improved in all aspects of the game, so why not now.”

Notes

• Following matching 6-under 66s in the first two rounds, Ryan Gerard (Second/12-under) sits inside the top five after 36 holes for the third time this season (T1/The Panama Championship/finished T11; T4/LECOM Suncoast Classic/finished T37)
  • Since turning professional in 2022, Gerard has made 16 Korn Ferry Tour starts with his best finish being a T3 at the 2023 Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard
  • Made 22 starts on the PGA TOUR last season and logged two top-10 finishes (Fourth/2023 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches; Fifth/2023 Barracuda Championship)
• Jeff Overton (T3/11-under), who held a share of the 18-hole lead, carded a second-round 3-under 69 and sits two shots behind the lead entering the weekend
  • Overton is making the 28th Korn Ferry Tour start of his career and fourth this season; since turning professional in 2005, he has 301 starts on the PGA TOUR and tallied 32 top-10 finishes
  • Overton returned to competitive golf in 2022 following complications from back surgery in 2017
• Open qualifier Tanner Gore (T3/11-under), who is making his 12th career start on the Korn Ferry Tour and fourth this season, recorded a 7-under 65 to mark a new career low in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned start
  • Gore claimed his first top-10 position after any round on the Korn Ferry Tour (previous best: T14 after 18 holes at 2024 Astara Chile Classic presented by Scotiabank)
• Gore’s 7-under 65 was tied for the low round of the day with Matt McCarty (T8/9-under), Trent Phillips (T11/8-under), Brendon Jelley (T11/8-under), Aldrich Potgieter (T19/7-under), Connor Howe (T33/6-under) and Sam Bennett (T33/6-under)
• Harry Higgs (T33/6-under), who grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, recorded a second-round bogey-free 5-under 67