FORT WORTH, Texas — PGA Tour rookie Brice Garnett grew up in a small Missouri town where his home course is a nine-hole layout.
Garnett has gone from Daviess County Country Club and then Missouri Western State to leading at Hogan's Alley after two rounds at Colonial.
MORE: Track third round at Colonial
After starting with an eagle, Garnett shot a 4-under 66 on Friday and moved to 7-under 133. He had a one-stroke lead over long-putting Chris Stroud (64) and Robert Streb (68).
"I'm just keeping my head down and trying to make as many birdies as possible," Garnett said. "I'm going to try to embrace it this weekend and have fun, and we'll see where we stand come Sunday."
Adam Scott, playing as No. 1 in the world for the first time, had birdies on three of his last seven holes for a 68 to get to 1 under. He has made the cut in his last 34 PGA Tour events, the longest active streak.
Matt Kuchar, ranked No. 4 in the world, had a chance to move to the top with a victory. But he missed the cut by a stroke at 2-over 142 after a 70.
The 30-year-old Garnett is from Gallatin, Missouri, a town of about 1,800 people. He has only one top-10 finish in his 18 previous starts on the PGA Tour, and has never won on the Web.com Tour. This is the first time he has even been in the top 10 after the second or third round on the PGA Tour.