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April 22, 2016
Steele Holds Steady At TPC San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Brendan Steele completed an 8-under 64 in the morning and shot a 70 in the second round Friday to take a three-shot lead in the Valero Texas Open.
"You always want to keep going when you're feeling good," said Steele, who was 8 under through 13 holes Thursday when first-round play was stopped because of darkness. "The ball was going a long way in the afternoon. Really good conditions. ... Come out this morning early and little bit colder and try to re-gather that momentum was a little bit different."
The winner five years ago at TPC San Antonio for his lone TOUR title, Steele had a 10-under 134 total. "I always feel good here," Steele said. "I know the shots. The course sets up really well for me. Kind of plays into my strength, which is usually driving the ball.
"And so to see it play a little bit softer and with a little less wind, my eyes kind of lit up. It always plays so difficult, firm and fast and the winning score is just a handful under par usually. To see it soften up a little bit, I knew it was good."
Play was suspended because of darkness with 13 players left on the course. The schedule was thrown off Thursday morning with a 3 1/2-hour rain delay.
Scott Langley, Stuart Appleby and Charley Hoffman were tied for second. Langley shot 68, Appleby 70, and Hoffman 71. Appleby rallied after four-putting from 7 feet for a triple bogey on his opening hole.
"I was swatting at it -- a golf ball got in the way," Appleby was able to joke. "I was doing like when Seve (Ballesteros) had a four-putt many years ago. I asked him, `How did you have a four-putt?' He said "I miss. I miss. I miss. I make.'"
Patrick Reed (73) was 6 under along with Ricky Barnes (70), Jon Curran (68), Sung Kang (67), Spencer Levin (69), Peter Malnati (71), Ryan Palmer (70) and Mark Wilson (69).
"I feel like I hit a couple of loose shots," said Reed, who was born in San Antonio. "The game feels solid. Just the ball striking a little bit."
Branden Grace, the RBC Heritage winner last week in South Carolina, shot his second round 72 to make the cut on the number.
Defending champion Jimmy Walker missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 77. Phil Mickelson also dropped out, shooting 77-71.
"I don't feel bad about the physical game, the ball coming off the blade," Mickelson said. "The swing is on plane. I need better mental focusing, seeing the shot before I step into it."
Former SMU star Bryson DeChambeau also missed the cut in his second pro start, shooting 74-73.
ABOUT VALERO
Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products, and sells its products primarily in the United States (U.S.), Canada, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Ireland and Latin America. Valero owns 15 petroleum refineries located in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day. Valero is a joint venture member in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, which owns two renewable diesel plants located in the U.S. Gulf Coast region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.2 billion gallons per year, and Valero owns 12 ethanol plants located in the U.S. Mid-Continent region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.6 billion gallons per year. Valero manages its operations through its Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol segments. Please visit investorvalero.com for more information.
ABOUT VALERO IN THE COMMUNITY
Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), and the Valero Energy Foundation are committed to improving the quality of life in communities where Valero has major operations. In 2023, Valero, its employees and the foundation collectively generated more than $77 million in charitable support through direct/in-kind donations, fundraising and volunteerism. Valero employees logged more than 127,000 volunteer hours in 2023 for hundreds of projects in their communities. Valero provides funding to a variety of nonprofit agencies for programs and services supporting education, basic needs, health care and civic initiatives. Through the overwhelming support of sponsors, the foundation’s signature programs, the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children, generated more than $23 million raised in 2023 for charities across the United States.
ABOUT THE VALERO TEXAS OPEN
The Valero Texas Open is the sixth-oldest professional tournament in golf worldwide, the third-oldest on the PGA TOUR and the longest held in the same city. In 2022, the tournament celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Its list of champions includes some of the greatest names in golf history: Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, Justin Leonard, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth and 2019, 2023 champion Corey Conners to name a few.
Since Valero became title sponsor in 2002, the tournament has become a leader in charitable fundraising among PGA TOUR events. The Valero Texas Open, together with its Benefit for Children and Champions fore Charity initiatives, has contributed more than $232 million to hundreds of worthy charities since inception. Please visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com for more information.
Media Contacts
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Valero Texas Open
Director, Marketing & Community Relations
210.345.3839 office
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Valero Texas Open
Director, Media Relations
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