Neal Shipley may as well have been putting into a basketball hoop on Friday at the Biltmore Championship.
He swished 14 one-putts to post a career-low 9-under 62 and take the lead at 15 under. In the land of the pines, it’s no surprise that he leads the field in strokes gained: putting.
Shipley started the day birdie, birdie, eagle, and with two more birdies at Nos. 7 and 8, turned at 29. On the back nine, his momentum continued, but slowed, where he carded intermittent birdies at Nos. 12, 15 and 17 to come in at 33.
In addition to being a professional golfer, he could very well double as a professional escape artist, performing a perfect 11 for 11 saves to stay bogey-free through 36 holes.
Shipley rightly assessed his game as “firing on all cylinders.”
Shipley earned his Tour card through the Korn Ferry Tour last year, and this is the first time the 25-year-old has held a 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour.
A native of Pittsburgh, Shipley grew up playing on hilly terrain and is benefitting from that experience in mountainous Asheville:
“I think just having that experience growing up playing on a lot of uneven lies, it’s been helpful out here today. I feel really comfortable out here.”
Ben Kohles, who was raised just a few hours away in Cary, North Carolina, is hot on Shipley’s heels, one back at 14 under.
In a tie for third at 11 under are Max Greyserman and Ricky Castillo. Castillo matched Shipley’s subterranean 62, also his career best.
The always candid and light-hearted Shipley looks towards the weekend with his signature relaxed optimism.
“I probably won’t have any trouble sleeping. I’m pretty tired right now. It’s been hot out here,” he said. “Having the big lead is something I’m not necessarily used to. Both my wins on the Korn Ferry Tour were come-from-behind, a little bit dramatic. So I’m actually really excited about it.
“I’m excited to keep the pedal down and, yeah, try to make it a bigger lead tomorrow afternoon.”