Colorado's Mark Hubbard in contention at PGA Championship; Wyndham Clark misses cut

Denver native Mark Hubbard loves playing at Valhalla Golf Club and it has shown during the first two rounds of the PGA Championship.

Hubbard shot a 68 during Friday's second round to follow his first-round 65 to vault into contention at this year's second major championship in Louisville, Ky.

He finished the day tied for fourth and three shots back of leader Xander Schauffele. The second round was suspended due to darkness with about 10 players left on the course.

The Colorado Academy graduate expressed how much he enjoys playing Valhalla after Thursday's first round. With delays and bad weather on Friday, Hubbard still brought the same approach.

"Yeah, it didn't change much. I felt like the course held up really well with the rain. I know it was raining kind of constant, but I don't feel like it made much of a difference," he said in his press conference. "It's been kind of soft all week. I think the biggest difference was the rough was a lot more penal today. So just kind of had to navigate that. I didn't drive it as well so I made a few more bogeys because of that. But, yeah, all in all, I felt like the course held up pretty well."

Hubbard has played in 13 PGA events this season and made the cut in every one, including a tied for fourth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro AM. But he really hasn't been in contention at a major. This is just his third time playing in the PGA Championship.

"Yeah, it's great. I mean, obviously you want to be in contention at majors and feel the buzz and the energy. It's a lot of fun. Going into the week I felt like this was the first time my game was in a position where I felt like I could do that, whereas before I just showed up and have been kind of happy to be there," Hubbard said. "And I think that showed just from a mental standpoint and confidence standpoint. I also think this is a good major course for me. There's so many that aren't. Oak Hill last year was pretty tough if you don't fly it 320. So, yeah, going into the week both how I was feeling but also how the course setup it just kind of felt like I had more of a chance this year."

Wyndham Clark struggled during Friday's second round with a 75 and missed the cut at his second straight major championship. Clark also struggled during his Masters debut in April. The U.S. Open champion will get a chance to defend his title at Pinehurst No. 2 in June.