Malnati Surprised By New Orleans Form

Peter Malnati says he is in unfamiliar territory as he and Billy Hurley III take the lead into the weekend at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Play was again brought to a premature end on Friday in Louisiana but the pair made it round in 67, backing up their opening 63 to reach halfway on 14-under. That is good enough to be one shot ahead of a four-way tie for second, although three of those groups have still to complete 36 holes in Avondale.

Malnati’s only career win on the PGA Tour came at the 2015 Sanders Farms Championship and he has an especially poor record at TPC Louisiana, missing three cuts in his four starts at the venue, while the pair also failed to make the weekend in this competition 12 months ago.

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The 31-year-old was quizzed on the situation after completing his round on Friday and admitted he was surprised by how he was faring at a course he has struggled at so often. “You’re right, my record here is terrible,” Malnati said. “I’ve never seen Saturday here, and I don’t think he’s ever seen Sunday. I didn’t come into this week thinking, ‘Oh, man, oh, man, it’s such a hard course.’ I just came in thinking, ‘Oh, man, I’ve played lousy here every year but I’m not going to this year. “I’m ready. I think I was due – and we were collectively due.”