SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda (AP) — Justin Lower had another 6-under 65 without taking advantage of the par 5s Friday, giving him a two-shot lead heading into the weekend at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

The island paradise felt more like a shock in the wind and rain squalls at Port Royal. The round did not end before nightfall for the second day in a row.

Lower, after finishing second last week in Mexico, opened with three birdies in five holes and took control with three straight birdies starting at No. 12 with a 6-foot putt. He rolled a 20-footer from the green at the 13th and made a sharp 15-footer on the next hole. The streak ended when his bunker shot on the 15th came close to the cup.

He just finished, he could have hit shots on the par 5s. He was in range at the 17th, but missed the green to the right. His throw stretched 12 feet and he missed the birdie putt.

“Not getting the par 5s when they’re all accessible except for No. 2 right into the wind, that part kind of sucks,” Lower said. “It would have been nice to make one of those last two putts on 17, 18, but it’s still a good round and I’m happy where I’m at.”

He was at 12-under 130, two shots ahead of Robby Shelton (64) and Ryan Moore (65).

Lower already has his card locked in for next year after last week. A victory would give him access to the Masters and the first two flagship $20 million events in 2025.

Shelton and Moore are not in the FedEx Cup top 150. The PGA Tour season ends next week and the top 125 retain their full status for next year.

“It hasn’t been very good,” Shelton said of his year, which he attributed to the change in swing coach. “But now I feel super calm this week and these last two events are just going to give it everything I have.”

Moore was on the verge of losing his card last year until he found himself tied for fifth at the Bermuda Championship and eighth at the season-ending RSM Classic. He is in the same situation this year.

“I have to get out of this habit of remembering how to play golf this penultimate week of the year, it’s not a good habit here,” Moore said. “But I hope it continues over the weekend and my game continues to follow the same trend.”

The cut won’t be made until the end of the second round on Saturday morning, but Egor Eroshenko was assured of playing on the weekend, making him the first Russian to qualify on the PGA Tour.

The biggest surprise might have been Kevin Kisner, who had a 68 and was three shots behind Sam Ryder (62). Kisner’s game has fallen off this year as he tries to rediscover his swing and has spent time in the NBC broadcast booth.

“It’s been a long stretch of bad golf, so it’s good to see some things happening,” Kisner said. “It’s an amazing formula: your average putts go in, your average putts go in, your good putts go in, your good putts really work. It’s been a fun few days seeing some good things.

Ryder had 10 birdies and a clean card until a bogey on his final hole for the low round of the day. He now joins everyone preparing for what is expected to be a tough Saturday with more wind and rain in Port Royal.

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