With preferred lies in effect and beginning off No. 10 tee, World No. 118 Richy Werenski fashioned a 4-under-par 36-32=68 in the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic for a 36-hole total of 8-under 136, up 15 spots to T6, two swings short of co-leaders Joaquin Niemann and Tom Lewis, who both signed for 69s.
The 29-year-old was in the top 10 after 36 holes last year as well (T3) before fading to T21 (67-66-72-70). Making his 25th start of the season, this is just his second time (individually) in the midpoint top 10, first since T6 at the ZOZO @ SHERWOOD back in October, where he eventually finished T57 (72-61-72-76). On eight (of 14) fairways and 16 greens in regulation, the South Florida resident lost strokes off the tee (-0.658) and around (-0.051), but gained 1.674 approaching and 2.402 on the green, despite a 3-putt bogey at 7 from 53'1" for his lone dropped shot of the lap.