Bhatia had six birdies against one bogey and a triple bogey while Theegala had three birdies, an eagle against four bogeys and two double bogeys. He started the day with three bogeys and ended with an eagle on an up-and-down day
Indian-American Theegala, who was sixth after the first round, was now Tied-14th at the halfway stage. Among those tied at 14th was World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (70-68), who is using this event to tune up ahead of the Ryder Cup
The tournament, which kicks off the PGA Tour's Fall schedule between the FedEx Cup Playoffs and the start of the 2026 season, holds special meaning for Theegala. He secured his first and only PGA Tour victory at this event in 2023, and followed it up with a strong T-7 finish last year
Theegala, who is currently ranked 11th in the world, also earned his first US Team appearance to feature in the Presidents Cup against the International Team at Royal Montreal in Canada later this month. In 2022, he was T-5 on his debut at Zozo
Patton Kizzire meanwhile returned to the winner's circle after a long gap shooting a scrambling 2-under 70 for a tournament-record, five-stroke victory. Kizzire had gone 176 events without a victory after winning events in Mexico and Hawaii in a two-month span in late 2017 and early 2018
With rounds of 69-66-69, he was 12-under but six shots behind leader, Patton Kizzire, who overcame erratic play off the tee, to stretch his lead to four strokes