Isenhour Leads After 64 at Empire Lakes

An impromptu putting lesson and another day of benign, windless conditions helped Tripp Isenhour fire an eight-under-par 64 Friday and grab a one-shot lead in the Buy.com Tour’s Inland Empire Open at Empire Lakes Golf Course.

Isenhour’s 64 gave him a two-round total of 14-under 130 and a one-shot edge over Fran Quinn, who carded a 65. Former PGA and Canadian tour pro Dave Barr, 48, is two shots back after a 67. Three shots behind Isenhour is the trio of Tommy Biershenk (64), Pat Perez (67) and Jim McGovern (67).

Isenhour made seven birdies and an eagle and needed only 25 putts in his round. He was seven under through 10 holes before bogeying the 601-yard 11th hole, the only blemish on his card.

“I putted well earlier in the year and I got a putting lesson from (former PGA Tour pro) Stan Utley on Wednesday afternoon, and lo and behold, it seems to be doing good right now,” said Isenhour, who is seventh on the tour’s money list. Isenhour’s 64 tied the course record set one day earlier by Sonny Skinner and tied Friday morning by Biershenk. The first-round leader, Skinner skidded to a 75 Friday and just made the cut at five under.