Stephen Curry Takes 36-Hole Lead at the American Century Championship

Photo of Stephen courtesy of American Century Championship

South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Stephen Curry, the four-year NBA sharp-shooter with the Golden State Warriors, made four birdies over the last eight holes Saturday to take the 36-hole lead by a point at the American Century Championship.

Curry has 47 total points in the modified Stableford format that awards graduated points for pars or better, while former NHL standout Jerome Roenick and former NFL quarterback Chris Chandler have 46 points.

“Considering the circumstances, this is the best I have ever played,” said Curry, who doesn’t play at all during the NBA season. “That’s pretty crazy. I didn’t expert that coming in.”

Curry made four birdies in a six-hole stretch from holes 11 through 16, but lost his momentum with bogies on holes 17 and 18. Overall, he had five birdies and three bogey for a real score of 2-under-par 70.

Chandler, a past champion, had 22 points in his second round, but felt he wasn’t as consistent as he needed to be.

“I fell asleep again from holes six through eight, just like yesterday,” said Chandler, who bogeyed all three of the holes. “But all in all, I hit the ball well today and hopefully, I can run a few putts in on Sunday.”

First-round leader Mark Rypien has 45 points and past champion Billy Joe Tolliver has 42 points heading into Sunday. Rypien led after the first day with 27 points, while Curry, who also played in this event in 2010, had 22 points after the first round.

The event will be televised by NBC on Sunday from 3-6 p.m. (EDT).The winner receives $125,000 from the total purse of $600,000.


By Craig Smith, former director of media relations for the U.S. Golf Association.