ELMSFORD, N.Y. (January 16, 2016) – Morgan Hoffmann is off to a strong start in the first full-field PGA TOUR event of 2016, as he enters the weekend inside the top 10 at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Related: Sony Open in Hawaii Leaderboard

On Thursday, the Franklin Lakes, N.J., native fired a 7-under 65 to hold a share of the lead along with Vijay Singh, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner and Ricky Barnes. Hoffmann opened the event—played at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu—with a bogey on his first hole, but spread six birdies throughout his round and closed the day by draining a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth.

Though Hoffmann carded a triple-bogey seven on the par-4 second on Friday, he birdied the par-4 sixth and eagled the ninth once again to make the turn in even-par. Birdies bookended seven consecutive pars on the inward nine for the 2005 Carter Cup champion, en route to a 2-under 68 in round two.

At 9-under, Hoffmann stands in a five-way tie for seventh entering the final 36 holes of play. Hoffmann’s career-best finish on the PGA TOUR came in 2014 when he tied for third at the BMW Championship, part of the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup Playoffs.

J.J. Henry and Jim Herman both made the cut on the number at 3-under 137 through 36 holes. A cut will also be made following the third round, since more than 78 players made the cut.

Live coverage of the Sony Open in Hawaii airs on the Golf Channel, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.