Power fights back to teeter on cut line in Utah as Harrington and Clarke trail Alker in Arkansas

Seamus Power hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America)

Seamus Power finds himself in a desperate battle to make the cut in the PGA Tour’s Bank of Utah Championship.

Battling to retain full playing rights next year with just four events of the season remaining, the West Waterford man was teetering on the cut line just three holes of his second round remaining when play was suspended until 4 pm Irish time today at Black Desert Resort.

Power is ranked 130th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings with the top 100 fully exempt for 2026 and the top 125 earning conditional status after next month’s RSM Classic.

Three bogeys and a birdie in his first 11 holes left Power outside the projected one under par cut line.

But he fought back with birdies at the third and sixth to share 65th on one under when play was suspended due to darkness.

While he's nine shots behind clubhouse leader Michael Brennan, Power has two par fives to play as he looks to secure weekend action.

Brennan graduated from the PGA Tour Americas to the Korn Ferry Tour this season and won three times in four Korn Ferry Tour starts to win one of ten PGA Tour cards.

He shot a six-under 65 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over JacksonnSuber, Pierceson Coody and Justin Lower on 10 under thanks to a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-five ninth.

“It’s very exciting to be in a tour event,” Brennan said. “I wasn’t sure I was going to play any this fall, so to have the opportunity to play in one is awesome. 

“I’m just very grateful to be here. It’s been a really fun week so far. Hopefully, it stays that way.”

On the PGA Tour Champions, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington have their work cut out to catch New Zealander Steven Alker in the Simmons Bank Championship in Arkansas.

Clarke was tied for eighth after he birdied his last five holes to open with a four under 68.

Two-time defending champion Harrington was joint 18th after making five birdies in a two-under 70.

Alker carded a PGA Tour Champions career low, 11-under 61 to match the largest 18-hole lead in Champions Tour history at Pleasant Valley Country Club.

He birdied his last six holes to lead by five shots from Tag Ridings, Greg Chalmers and Justin Leonard as players battle to make the top 36 in the points standings who qualify for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

“I just kind of felt like a bit of deja vu,” the Kiwi said. “I got there on the back nine and started making a couple of birdies through 13 and 14, I was like, this could be a nice round.

“Just kept the momentum going. You never think you're going to shoot 61; you just don't see it coming, and that was really nice to keep the momentum.

“Finished, I think, with six birdies in a row. Doesn't happen very often, so it was very pleasing.”