Fernandez grabs lead ahead of Smyth

Vicente Fernandez of Argentina grabbed a two-stroke lead after the second round of the inaugural Bayer Advantage Celebrity Pro-Am.

Fernandez fired a five-under-par 67 at The National Golf Club of Kansas City to soar past faltering first-round leader Jose Maria Canizares of Spain.

Fernandez signed in for one of three 67s and climbed to six under par on 138.

Mike McCullough and Ireland’s Des Smyth bounced back from opening-round 73s and are tied for second on 140 with former Player of the Year Allen Doyle and Jay Sigel.

James Mason and Butch Sheehan are a further shot back, with Hale Irwin among four players on two under at 142.

One is Pat McDonald, a Champions Tour rookie who collected nine birdies en route to a seven-under 65 – the best score of the weekend.

Fernandez had four bogeys on the front nine and never got back on track, carding a three-over 75 to fall six shots back.