Clouds, fog and a little rain made conditions a slightly easier around Shinnecock Hills on Friday morning than they were Thursday. It allowed players to have lower rounds a day after the golf course produced the highest scoring average in U.S. Open history since 1986, the last time it was played at Southampton, New York.

Braden Thornberry had an opportunity to better his opening round 76 and put himself in position to play the weekend in his first major championship. Instead, struggles in the closing holes put those hopes to rest.

Thornberry shot a three-over 73 second round to drop to nine-over for the championship. He missed the cut by one stroke which was set at eight-over after sitting at nine-over until late in the second round.

After making one birdie in his opening round Thornberry carded three birdies during Friday’s round but six bogies sprinkled throughout ruined what would have been one of the better rounds of the morning session.

The day got started with a familiar scene, Thornberry make a birdie on his opening hole. The rising senior started the second round on the back nine. Another birdie on No. 12 was sandwiched between two bogies on Nos. 11 and 13. He closed his opening nine holes with a bogey on No. 17 to make the turn with a one-over 36.

Thornberry carded only one birdie on his closing nine, coming on the par-four sixth hole. He stumbled with bogies on Nos. 8 and 9 to close out his round.

Dustin Johnson shot a three-under 67 to finish at four-under overall and took a four-shot lead into the weekend.