Corey Conners of Canada plays his shot from the ninth tee during the second round of the Procore Championship 2024 at Silverado Resort on September 13, 2024 in Napa, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
The International Team grouping of Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Min Woo Lee had it going on Friday morning. Conners was the low scorer, posting 8-under 64, which included an eagle at 18. Hughes shot 67 and Lee, who was leading until his drive hit a tree and ricocheted out of bounds, settled for 69. All three are at 7-under 137 heading into the weekend.
The trio bonded first at a team dinner on Wednesday and then had time to chat about the Presidents Cup for the first two days.
“It was fun to play with those guys and going to be teammates with them in a couple weeks,” Conners said. “Obviously Mac and I go way back to our junior golf days and really close friends. Got to know Min Woo better over the last few years.”
Conners got the birdie-fest going by stuffing his approach at No. 10 to two feet and Hughes let him know he liked that shot.
“I said, ‘Hey, if you’re my partner that’s kind of the length of putt I like so just make sure you hit it close like that for me,’ ” Hughes said.
At the fourth, Hughes did him one better, holing a pitching wedge from 152 yards.
“If we happen to be alternate shot partners, I do enjoy that very much, too,” Conners said.
All three are within touch of the lead, which is what they were looking for this week as they prep for the Presidents Cup, which begins Sept. 26.
“I’d say so far mission accomplished,” Hughes said. “My goal is to kind of get yourself in the mix, that’s the best way to kind of get yourself tournament ready, battle tested is to be in contention.”
