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Woodland edges clear in Mexico

Mayakoba - Gary Woodland fired a six-under-par 65 to open up a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour's OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico on Friday.

The 32-year-old from Kansas produced a bogey-free round with six birdies and 12 pars to head into the weekend at Playa del Carmen at 13-under 129.

Woodland, who shot a seven-under-par 64 in his opening round on Thursday, powered into the lead with a superb finish, sinking three birdies over the final four holes.

The highlight of a flawless round came on the par-four 16th, when he hit a superb six-iron from the fairway to three feet for a simple birdie putt.

"Nice to get back into the swing of things, very comfortable with where I'm at right now," said Woodland, who got married last month in a hectic close season.

Woodland leads by one from Webb Simpson, the 2012 US Open champion, who shot a second consecutive six-under-par 65 to be 12-under after 36 holes.

Like Woodland, Simpson finished strongly, recording three consecutive birdies on his closing three holes after teeing off on the 10th at the 6 987-yard layout.

Simpson, who has yet to record a bogey over the opening two rounds, relied on a red-hot putter to do the damage.

The 31-year-old from North Carolina took just 22 putts to compile his round as he chases a fifth career win.

One of his six birdies on Friday came after he narrowly missed out on a hole-in-one at the 155-yard par three 15th, his eight iron tee-shot almost rolling into the cup to leave him with a tap-in.

One behind Simpson and two off the lead on 11-under was Scott Piercy, who shot a five-under-par 66 comprised of six birdies and one bogey.

Ben Martin meanwhile was one of the day's biggest movers, climbing to nine-under overall after his seven-under-par 64.

The 29-year-old from South Carolina might have made climbed higher had it not been for two bogeys which spoiled a superb display.

Martin opened with a trio of birdies and bagged three more over the front nine before carding another three after the turn to finish the day four off the lead.

Martin was joined by Chris Kirk, John Huh, Mexico's Abraham Ancer, Canada's Adam Hadwin, Russell Knox of Scotland and Charles Howell.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland meanwhile just scraped into the weekend after making the cut, which came at two-under, with a six-under-par 65 following his opening round 75.

Leading second-round scores on Friday in the PGA Tour's OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (USA unless noted):

129 - Gary Woodland 64-65

130 - Webb Simpson 65-65

131 - Scott Piercy 65-66

133 - Ben Martin 69-64, Chris Kirk 63-70, John Huh 67-66, Abraham Ancer (MEX) 65-68, Adam Hadwin (CAN) 67-66, Russell Knox (SCO) 68-65, Charles Howell 69-64

134 - Steve Marino 70-64, Ben Crane 64-70, Carlos Ortiz (MEX) 68-66, Luke List 66-68, Nick Taylor (CAN) 68-66, Cody Gribble 68-66, Pat Perez 68-66, Seamus Power (IRL) 68-66

135 - Marc Leishman (AUS) 70-65, Tyrone Van Aswegen (RSA) 68-67, Jason Bohn 69-66, Xander Schauffele 72-63, Martin Laird (SCO) 68-67

136 - Camilo Villegas (COL) 64-72, Jon Rahm (ESP) 67-69, Scott Brown 67-69, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 69-67, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 69-67, Cameron Davis (AUS) 66-70, Aaron Wise 65-71

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