LOS ANGELES - In a Northern Trust Open field uncharacteristically scarce on star power, South Korean youngster Sang-Moon Bae carried a slight lead into the weekend following a 5-under-par 66 that put him at 9-under 133 through two rounds at Riviera Country Club, one stroke ahead of Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus.

“I had a really, really solid two rounds,” Bae said. “I love this course.”

Bae loved this course a year ago, too, when he was also 9-under after two rounds and owned a share of first place. But a wild third-round 76 took him out of contention, and he said Friday he learned an important lesson in Pacific Palisades.

Which lesson was that?

“Patience,” Bae said. “That’s it.”

Dustin Johnson, the first-day leader, dropped into a tie for fifth after posting a 1-under 70 on Friday. The second day’s top performers included Jordan Spieth, 20, who fired a 5-under 66, and Baddeley, the 2011 Northern Trust champion, who shot 6-under 65.

But the day’s best round belonged to expectant father Jason Allred, a complete unknown who hadn’t played a tour event in four years until he qualified for Riviera on Monday.

Allred’s wife is due with their third child in two weeks. His eldest daughter wasn’t even born the last time he held a PGA Tour card, in 2008.

And yet he produced the best round this week at Riviera, his 7-under 64 taking him from outside the cut line to a tie for ninth.

First thing first Friday, he had to finish off two holes from his opening round, suspended by darkness. Then began the birdie marathon.

At one point, Allred birdied four consecutive holes. At another, he was down to 9 under for the round, until he bogeyed No. 15 and 16.

All the while, he was on call to head back home to Scottsdale, Ariz., for the birth. He said he’d pick up and leave immediately if he found out the baby was on the way.

“I almost didn’t come here, so I thought I might as well let it rip,” Allred said.