Shriners Children's Open: Mito Pereira leads at halfway mark in Las Vegas

The 27-year-old mixed nine birdies with a lone bogey to take his total to 12-under 130 after 36 holes at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

"I had a really good round overall," Pereira said. "I hit driver well, irons really good. I hit three or four shots inside three feet. Solid on my putting. Overall really good and happy how I played."

Lying in solo second place a shot behind is American Robby Shelton, who carded a bogey-free 66.

South Korean duo Tom Kim (67) and Si Woo Kim (68) share third place a shot further back alongside Maverick McNealy (68).

Australian Cam Davis and Americans Chad Ramey and Kevin Streelman lie in a tie for sixth on 133, three off the lead.

Interestingly, four of the top five players on the leaderboard were part of captain Trevor Immelman's Internationals team that lost to the United States two weeks ago at the Presidents Cup

"Trevor did a really good job with us, encouraging us how good we are, how good we play golf, so we carry that over here," Pereira said. "Right now we're playing really good.

"He just really tried to put us in a position that we really want to play well and really trusting ourselves. Every day he did like a little speech of how good we are and how we can do this. So I think it really touched us."

For Pereira, it's his first lead in a tournament since he found himself one shot ahead with one hole to play at the PGA Championship in May, when a closing double-bogey cost him a chance at victory.

"It's just way over there in the past," Pereira said. "I'm just trying to get my first win here.

"Hitting off the tee good and irons are going to be very important. You've got to go pretty low this week, so just keep doing what I'm doing."