NEWPORT, R.I. — Hiroyuki Fujita said his first round of the U.S. Senior Open was lucky.
The Japan native threw luck aside on his second day at Newport Country Club.
Fujita finished with a 4-under 66 on Friday and 11 under for the tournament to claim sole possession of first place at the cut. And for the second straight day, Steve Stricker shot a 66 to finish near the top of the leaderboard.
“Haven’t seen this course in this wind before, and it was pretty steady wind right out of the chute for us today,” Stricker said. “It was a challenge; there are some holes that played a little bit easier. But some of the holes that played easy yesterday were difficult today.”
Fujita birdied three of his first five holes, including 13, which faces the wind. Newport’s 13th sits along the ocean, but Fujita landed right at the pin on the 241-yard par-3 and sank the short putt for birdie. The putt broke a tie with Stricker for first place at the time.
Hiroyuki Fujita is on some kind of run! 🇯🇵
23 holes played, 10 birdies and 0 bogeys for the U.S. Senior Open leader. pic.twitter.com/kRj5QbBfpT
— USGA (@USGA) June 28, 2024
“It’s a long ways to go,” Stricker said. “We’re halfway, or at least I’m halfway done. There’s a lot of golf left to be played. Who knows, I haven’t looked at the conditions or the weather report going into the weekend. But I think that’s going to be the story here.”
Richard Green, of Australia, is still neck-and-neck with Fujita and finished 10 under for the tournament, one behind Fujita.
Tee times and groupings for Saturday’s third round have been adjusted due to anticipated heavy fog to start the morning. Golfers will play again in threesomes starting from the first and 10th tees on Saturday. The United States Golf Association usually plays in twosomes in the final rounds.
“Whatever I hit yesterday, I just hit the opposite club today,” Stricker said. “Just playing a totally different wind.”
Terry Francona on site
U.S. Senior Open honorary chair, Terry Francona, could be seen on Friday.
The two-time World Series-winning manager of the Boston Red Sox was following close friend Billy Andrade’s second round at Newport Country Club.
Francona is an avid golf fan and has rooted for Andrade since it was announced he was going to be the honorary guest.
“I’m going to try to, how do you say it, not steal a cart, get a cart and go watch Billy Andrade play some golf,” Francona…
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