Jacob Bridgeman ekes ahead at Valspar Championship

Jacob Bridgeman shot a 2-under-par 69 to carve out a one-shot lead over Viktor Hovland and two others at the Valspar Championship on Friday in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Bridgeman, a 25-year-old in just his 40th career start on the PGA Tour, is at 6-under 136 with a narrow edge over Norwegian star Hovland (67 on Friday), Japan's Ryo Hisatsune (66) and Byeong Hun An of South Korea (67).

The highlight of Bridgeman's round was an eagle at the par-5 11th hole at the Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course, where he reached the green in two and sank a 10-foot putt. Bridgeman reached 7 under with a birdie at No. 14 but bogeyed his final hole, shrinking his cushion.

Hovland, 27, had missed three straight cuts before this week but found better results Friday, when he birdied five holes with a single bogey. The six-time PGA Tour champion is trying to get his game back on track, as is another notable player in the Valspar field, Xander Schauffele.

The World No. 3 shot a 68 on Friday and moved into a tie for fifth at 4 under with Ireland's Shane Lowry (67), Kevin Velo (70) and Germany's Jeremy Paul (69). Schauffele made his 60th consecutive cut one week after saying his game felt "pretty gross" at The Players Championship.

Davis Riley (70), Ricky Castillo (72), Harry Hall of England (70), Emiliano Grillo of Argentina (68) and Victor Perez of France (70) are tied at 3 under.

The cut line was at 2 over par. Notable names who'll miss the weekend include Zach Johnson (3 over), Webb Simpson (3 over), two-time Valspar winner Sam Burns (3 over), Jake Knapp (9 over) and Cameron Young (9 over).