Hossler (66) back in the hunt for first win

POTOMAC, Md. – Yet again, Beau Hossler finds himself in the hunt for his first PGA Tour title.

The 23-year-old former Texas Longhorn reached 9 under par Friday to take the outright lead at the Quicken Loans National through the morning wave.

Rounds of 65-66 gave him his Tour-leading 40th and 41st scores in the 60s this season. He has now broken 70 in each of his last six rounds, dating back to last week’s Travelers Championship.

“I usually try and play par 70s.” he joked. “No, it’s been strong this year, I’ve had a lot of really good rounds. Unfortunately, I’ve had some kind of high ones that are uncharacteristic for me.”

And they’ve all typically come on the weekend. Hossler on average this season has been as good as anyone on Thursday and as bad as anyone on Sunday. He’s second on Tour in first-round scoring average, 21st in second-round scoring average, 86th in third-round scoring average and tied for 159th in final-round scoring average.

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He signed for Sunday rounds of 80, 79 and 76 earlier this season. Playing in the final group at the Shriners back in November, he faded to a tie for seventh as the winds whipped.

But there are signs that Hossler, who is playing a full Tour schedule for the first time, is about to put it all together.

He fired a Sunday 67 to earn his way into a playoff at the Houston Open and added a final-round 66 last week to record his second runner-up. He’s also notched two other top-10s.

Hossler has broken 70 more times this season than any other player on Tour. Another couple rounds in the 60s and this may be his week.

“I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “I feel good. I mean, the course is scoreable. I doubt that 9 under will be leading. Like I said, the course is in perfect shape so you could get it rolling with the putter, and with how hot it is, it’s not playing particularly long. I would expect to be in contention heading [into the weekend] and I look forward to it.”