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Kevin Chappell shoots a 65 for one-shot lead in PGA Tour’s RSM Classic

Kevin Chappell watches his tee shot at No. 2 on Friday during the second round of the RSM Classic.

Kevin Chappell watches his tee shot at No. 2 on Friday during the second round of the RSM Classic.

(Todd Warshaw / Getty Images)
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Sea Island in Georgia seems to be a good fit for California native Kevin Chappell.

It didn’t work so well for the 21-year-old son of Davis Love III, who grew up in the Golden Isles and missed the cut in his PGA Tour debut.

Chappell had no trouble in a steady wind Friday, holing a 35-foot birdie putt early and holing a 45-yard bunker shot for eagle late in his round of five-under 65 on the Seaside Course at St. Simons Island, Ga., that gave him a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the RSM Classic.

Winless in five-plus years and 143 starts on the PGA Tour, the 29-year-old Chappell gave himself another chance in a tournament where he seems to thrive. He was in the final group going into the weekend at Sea Island in 2013, and was four shots behind at the halfway point last year.

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Chappell was at 11-under 131, one shot clear of Freddie Jacobson, who had a five-under 67 on the Plantation Course, and Kevin Kisner, who had a 67 at Seaside.

Kyle Stanley had a 67 at Seaside and was two shots behind. Graeme McDowell, coming off a victory Monday in Mexico, had a 68 at Plantation and was four behind.

Dru Love looked like he would make it to the weekend when he was three under for the tournament with only seven holes to play. The junior at Alabama played the final seven holes at Plantation in seven over, closing with a pair of double bogeys for a 42 on the front nine and a 76 to miss the cut. Davis Love III, the tournament host, had a 70 at Plantation that allowed him to make the cut on the number at two-under 140.

Jang’s 65 good for two-shot lead at LPGA tournament

Ha Na Jang shot a seven-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead over top-ranked Lydia Ko in the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla.

Jang had a 10-under 134 total. Ko shot a 67, rebounding from a double bogey and a bogey with birdies on the final two holes. The 18-year-old New Zealander She remains in control of year-end honors, such as player of the year, the scoring title and a $1 million bonus.

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Jennifer Song (69) and, Cristie Kerr (69) were seven under. Karine Icher (67) — playing with her French homeland in mind — was another stroke back along with Brittany Lincicome (70) and Gerina Piller (70).

Second-ranked Inbee Park (69) was tied for 13th at four under.

Ko and Park are tied for the tour victory lead with five. They are 1-2 in five major competitions. Ko tops the world ranking (12.40 average points to 12.31), player of the year standings (276 points to 273), Race to the CME Globe (5,000 reset points to 4,500) and the money list ($2,758,417 to $2,570,096). Park leads the Vare Trophy for scoring average (69.433 to 69.449).

Ko, Park and No. 3 Stacy Lewis (4,000 points) would take the $1 million Race to the CME Globe bonus with a victory. Lewis (70) was tied for 29th at two over.

Sullivan takes lead at World Tour event in Dubai

England’s Andy Sullivan took a one-stroke lead in the DP World Tour Championship, and Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy moved two shots ahead of rival Danny Willett.

Sullivan shot his second straight six-under 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo was second after a 64, and American Patrick Reed was third at nine under after a 65.

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McIlroy was tied for fourth at eight under after a 68. Willett had a 70.

McIlroy leads the standings with 3,393,923 points, followed by Willett with 3,392,310. Players will receive a point for each dollar earned in the event. The points winner will receive $1.25 million and an additional $625,000 for playing three of the four Finals Series events.

Scott shares lead at Australian Masters

Adam Scott closed with a bogey for a one-under 70 and a share if the lead with fellow Australian Peter Wilson after the second round of the Australian Masters.

Wilson shot his second straight 67 to match Scott at eight-under 134 at Huntingdale.

Australia’s Matthew Guyatt was a stroke back after a 66. Australia’s Brett Rumford (64) and American George McNeil (66) followed at six under. U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau was tied for 12th at three under after a 70.

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