Charles Schwab Challenge 2020: Harold Varner III Leads by 1 Stroke After Round 2

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Two days into the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge, Harold Varner III is still in the top spot on the leaderboard. 

Harold Varner III @HV3_Golf

Final pairing on Saturday. Let’s do it! #WeHere https://t.co/JKb58IuvDH

After finishing his first round at seven under par Thursday, Varner (-11) entered the clubhouse Friday with a round of four under to take a one-stroke lead over Jordan Spieth (-10) and Bryson DeChambeau (-10). 

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

26 putts.
13/14 fairways.
4/5 Scrambling.

@JordanSpieth will tee it up this weekend @CSChallengeFW contending for another win in his home state of Texas. https://t.co/7cPYNdlpVv

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

Bulked up @B_DeChambeau is in full attack mode on his tee shots.

#QuickHits https://t.co/g7ttPtCnOz

Spieth hasn't won a tournament since the 2017 British Open, but he has notched victories in two out of the last three times he's shot 130 or better through 36 holes—as he did on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas, just outside his hometown of Dallas. 

Here's a look at the full leaderboard as the tournament moves into the weekend:

1. Harold Varner III (-11)

T2. Jordan Spieth (-10)

T2. Bryson DeChambeau (-10)

T4. Rory McIlroy (-9)

T4. Xander Schauffele (-9)

T4. Collin Morikawa (-9)

T7. Justin Thomas (-8)

T7. Justin Rose (-8)

T7. Gary Woodland (-8)

T7. Branden Grace (-8)

T7. Daniel Berger (-8)

Full leaderboard available at PGATour.com

Recap

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

The best from Thursday's Twitter Multicast, which featured 20 athletes, celebrities and broadcasters providing unique commentary on @PGATOURLIVE. https://t.co/Gu3lucXu9l

Varner's day started off about as poorly as possible with a triple bogey off the first tee at the 10th hole. 

It did not take the 29-year-old long to regain his form. The East Carolina product notched birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 and ended his round with birdies on five of the last six holes to shoot a 66 overall. 

His quick recovery offered a study in contrasts as Thursday's third-place finisher, Jhonattan Vegas, bogeyed his first two holes of the day and finished with a 74, 10 strokes more than he needed on Day 1. 

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

Putting for the weekend!

@JhonattanVegas sinks a deep birdie putt on 18 to get inside the cutline.

#QuickHits https://t.co/LYBWfd01Ae

Vegas drop 44 spots in the standings all the way to a tie for 47th and needed a long birdie putt on his last hole to ensure he'd make it to the weekend. 

As far as recoveries go, no one can claim a more wild comeback on a single hole Friday than Gary Woodland. 

The 2019 U.S. Open champion sliced his tee shot at No. 9 well into the rough, leaving him 193 yards from the pin. He was separated by both a tree line and a water hazard—with two sand traps sitting behind the green for good measure. Woodland decided to attack the hole anyway and pulled off a miraculous shot that allowed him to clean up with a birdie.

Golf Channel @GolfChannel

198 yards over trees and water.

@GaryWoodland knows that birdie is worth a smile 😏 Watch the @CSChallengeFW now on TV and streaming. https://t.co/ixKSAmWRiY

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

TV couldn't do justice to the difficulty of @GaryWoodland's recovery shot on No. 9.

TOURCast on the other hand … https://t.co/y2jUE8XnpI https://t.co/SvUMEWY98g

It was the type of luck Rory McIlroy could've used on No. 8 to sink a birdie putt that just rimmed out. Overall, McIlroy will have little to complain about after a round with six birdies, an eagle and just one bogey. 

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

A horrible horseshoe while playing Horrible Horseshoe. 🐴 https://t.co/4GqklXiaPw

As he searches for PGA Tour victory No. 19, the Northern Irishman is in prime position to make a move up the leaderboard Saturday. 

He'll have to knock Varner out of first place to do so, and there's been little indication the Ohio native will be easy to move past.