DeChambeau advances to round of 32 at long drive championship

Bryson DeChambeau is moving on at the Professional Long Drivers of America World Championship.

The PGA TOUR star finished second in his 16-man group with 800 points on Wednesday as the field thinned from 64 to 32 for Thursday's penultimate round. The field will shrink to 16 for Friday's finale.

DeChambeau maxed out at 355 yards Wednesday as competitors dealt with a stiff headwind. The 28-year-old smashed a 412-yard drive Tuesday.

"What he's doing is obviously wonderful for the sport. He's a good guy. He has a very altruistic desire to help the sport out. It's great to have someone appreciate what the guys can do out here," former world champion and fellow competitor Kyle Berkshire said of DeChambeau, according to Ben Everill of PGATOUR.com.

"He took a big leap of faith and put himself in a vulnerable position to compete out here, and he's backed it up with his performance. He's doing the PGA TOUR really proud."

DeChambeau, who sits 61st on the PGA TOUR's career earnings list with $25.9 million, will donate any winnings from the event back into the purse for other competitors.