Brian Gay and Scott Hend Share Lead at Senior PGA Championship

Veteran golfers make moves on Day 2 of major tournament in Florida.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:43pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a golf tournament scene broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant greens, blues, and browns, conveying the dynamic energy and competition of the event.A fractured, cubist interpretation of the intense competition at the Senior PGA Championship, where veteran golfers battle for a major title.Bradenton Today

Brian Gay and Scott Hend of Australia share the 36-hole lead at the Senior PGA Championship after the second round on Friday. Gay shot a 4-under 68 while Hend fired a 65 to reach 10-under par overall, two shots clear of major champions Stewart Cink and Retief Goosen.

Why it matters

The Senior PGA Championship is one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour Champions schedule, with a field of veteran golfers vying for a major title. The close leaderboard heading into the weekend sets up an exciting finish at Concession Golf Club.

The details

Gay overcame some wild moments on the par 5s, including finding bushes off the tee on two holes, but made an eagle and a birdie late to join Hend atop the standings. Hend had a much cleaner round, making five birdies over his final eight holes. Cink and Goosen are two shots back, while 68-year-old Bernhard Langer struggled to a 76 after opening with a 66.

  • Gay and Hend share the 36-hole lead at 10-under par.
  • The third round of the Senior PGA Championship will take place on Saturday.

The players

Brian Gay

A 50-year-old American golfer who is in contention for his first senior major championship title.

Scott Hend

A 48-year-old Australian golfer who is seeking his first PGA Tour Champions victory.

Stewart Cink

A 48-year-old American golfer and major champion who is two shots off the lead.

Retief Goosen

A 52-year-old South African golfer and major champion who is also two shots behind the leaders.

Bernhard Langer

A 68-year-old German golfer who shot his age or lower for the 43rd time in the opening round but struggled in the second round.

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What they’re saying

“Another pretty good day. A little volatile. Pretty similar to yesterday, except I butchered a couple of par 5s. Two of them with one bad tee ball, two good tee balls, but other than that, I putted well again. Just a couple of balls in the bushes.”

— Brian Gay

“I was disappointed in yesterday's two double bogeys on the back nine, so I wanted to play that nine a bit smarter and a bit better today, so I didn't short-side myself as much as what I did yesterday. And it seemed to work out quite well.”

— Scott Hend

What’s next

The third round of the Senior PGA Championship will take place on Saturday, with Gay and Hend looking to maintain their lead and fend off the challenges of major champions Cink and Goosen.

The takeaway

The close leaderboard at the Senior PGA Championship sets up an exciting weekend finish, with veteran golfers like Gay, Hend, Cink and Goosen all in contention for the major title. The tournament continues to showcase the talent and competitiveness of the PGA Tour Champions circuit.