HONOLULU — A different week, a different island and a much different view for K.J. Choi.

Seven days ago, Choi was bringing up the rear in the Mercedes-Benz Championship, last among 31 winners at Kapalua going into the weekend. On Friday, he closed with three straight birdies for a 5-under 65 and a two-shot lead in the Sony Open.

Choi was at 11-under 129. Kevin Na was the only player in the afternoon to make a move, making seven birdies in a round of 64.

Stephen Marino was atop the leaderboard for most of the morning until his momentum stalled with a bogey on the easiest hole, although he recovered for a 67 and was three shots behind.

Tadd Fujikawa played his ninth tournament as a pro without cashing a check.

Fujikawa, who turned 17 this week, last year became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour when he shot 66 in the second round at the Sony Open and wound up in a tie for 20th. His encore didn’t go as he had hoped.

Needing a 66 to make the cut, his hopes ended with a double bogey on No. 6, his 15th hole. He shot 70 for a 4-over 144, missing the cut no matter how it was decided.

That became a hot issue Friday afternoon with a new rule on the PGA Tour to limit the size of fields on the weekend.

While the top 70 and ties still make the cut, when the number of player exceeds 78 players, the closest number of players to 70 advance to the weekend. Eighty-seven players made the cut at even-par 140, but only 69 players will compete on the weekend.

The other 18 players received $9,699 in official money and 46 points toward the FedEx Cup.

Joburg Open

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — South Africa’s Mark Murless shot a 3-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Joburg Open.

Murless had a 9-under 133 total on the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal (68) was second, and South Africans Warren Abery (65), Charl Coetzee (67) and Tyrone Ferreira (70) followed at 7 under.

The tournament is sanctioned by the European and Southern Africa tours.