Rebel uprising scorches Summerlin

Two guys who used to wear UNLV scarlet got together and painted the leaderboard red Friday at TPC Summerlin.

Former Rebels standout Chad Campbell shot a 9-under-par 62, capped by an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole, to share a one-shot lead with Troy Matteson after two rounds of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

"I've been feeling good all week," Campbell said. "But there's a long way to go. You've got to make a lot of birdies. You've got to be aggressive, but you also have to stay patient. If you make a few pars, you can't get frustrated even if everybody is making a lot of birdies."

UNLV product Ryan Moore, playing in the same group as Campbell, had an eagle of his own, on the par-5 16th, in a bogey-free round of 63. Moore was in a four-way tie at 12-under 130, one shot behind Campbell and Matteson, who carded a 67.

"I've been rolling it well the last two days," Moore said. "It has been feeling great. I'm able to be aggressive, and I had three or four good par saves in a row.

"It's there in front of me. I just have to keep playing golf. I'm happy with everything."

Campbell and Moore have played well at TPC Summerlin in the past. Their knowledge of the course, combined with Friday's perfect conditions, allowed them to close the gap on Matteson, who shared the first-day lead in the PGA Tour event with Tom Pernice Jr. and Spencer Levin.

"I think there's a certain amount of comfort in knowing the course," said Moore, who is tied with Matt Kuchar (64), Bob Heintz (67) and Martin Laird (67). "We didn't play here every day when I was in college, but I've played it enough times that I am comfortable out here."

Campbell, who played for the Rebels in 1995 and '96, and Moore, who played at UNLV from 2001 to 2005, don't know each other that well but said they enjoyed being in the same group the last two days.

"It was a lot of fun out there," Moore said. "He's a great guy. I love playing with him."

Campbell and Moore weren't the only former Rebels who played well Friday. Charley Hoffman shot 69 and, with a 135 total, made the cut by three strokes.

Former UNLV standout Chris Riley bounced back from an opening 73 to fire a 64, and former Rebel Bill Lunde survived with a two-day total of 138 after carding a 70.

Kuchar, who finished one shot behind tournament winner Marc Turnesa here last year, said the warm weather and pristine course conditions are bringing out his best.

"I love playing here," said Kuchar, who won in chilly upstate New York two weeks ago at Turning Stone. "I think I built some momentum from (Thursday) on the back side and carried it over (Friday). It seems like the back side is where you'll find the majority of people making birdies."

Matteson did just enough to overcome two bogeys and stay atop the leaderboard. He said some of the pin placements were tough for him Friday.

"I've been driving it good," Matteson said. "I've been hitting a lot of greens, and out here you don't want to miss a lot of greens."

Three-time event winner Jim Furyk (67), Bonanza graduate Scott Piercy (67), Pernice (69) and PGA Tour rookie Rickie Fowler (64) were tied at 131.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.