OAKVILLE, Ont. – The opening round of PGA TOUR second qualifying stage is complete with several current and former Canadian Tour players taking the early lead.
At Brooksville, Fla., Hugo Leon fired a seven under par 65 to grab a share of top spot with Keven Fortin-Simard while Jon Mills and Jay Williamson are T-9.
Andy Matthews and Brad Heaven are T-13, one ahead of Erik Compton, Scott Dunlap, Bryan DeCorso, Garrett Frank and Robert Gates who are T-17.
Dean Wilson is T-30 while Grant Waite, David Markle, Christo Greyling, Jason Kang and Stephen Gangluff are T-39.
With the Top-21 and ties advancing, Adam Short and David Branshaw (T-60), Jim Lemon and Yohann Benson (T-66), Cody Slover (T-72), Lucas Lee (T-76) and Brady Stockton (T-78) need to make up ground.
Up the road in Panama City, Fla., Brian Guetz opened with a 66 to grab solo third while Guy Boros and Dan McCarthy are T-11.
Steven Alker opened with a 70 to share 18th with Ty Harris and Bret Guetz, one ahead of Brian Unk, Jeff Rangel and Rick Price (T-28).
Peter Lonard and David Morland (T-37), Joe Daley (T-46), Sal Spallone and Rafael Gomez (T-58), and Clayton Rask (T-63) are also in the field.
The Top-20 and ties advance.
At Pine Mountain, Ga., Tour graduate Ken Duke shares top spot after a 64 while Brent Schwarzrock is T-6 after a 67. Rob Oppenheim’s position (T-14) is safely inside the Top-20 and ties needed to advance.
Derek Oakey and Ian Leggatt both shot 70 for a share of 32nd, while James Love and Chang Hong are T-45.
Graham DeLaet is T-57 after an opening 72, one ahead of Robert Damron (T-68).
At Kingwood, Texas, Tour graduate Brandt Jobe fired a seven under par 65 to grab a two stroke lead.
J.C. Deacon shot 68 and shares sixth spot with fellow member James Hahn, while David Mathis, Omar Uresti and Brian Kontak are T-15.
David Hearn, Glen Day, Ryan Thornberry and Garrett Sapp are T-23, two ahead of John Douma and John Ellis who are T-39.
In a field that sees the Top-19 and ties move on, Brad Fritsch, Clay Ogden and Shawn Jasper are T-47, one ahead of Ben Ferguson, Nemanja Savic and Jon Turcott who are T-54.
Jim Seki is in a group sharing 64th spot while Byron Smith and Daniel Im are T-66, three ahead of Jason Allred (T-73).
Former member Brian Watts withdrew.
At McKinney, Texas, both Troy Kelly and Tommy Barber opened with 68s to sit in a tie for seventh, one ahead of Travis Bertoni and Wil Collins.
Madalisto Muthiya and Edward Loar are T-17, one ahead of Scott Gutschewski, Bryn Parry, Rolf Muntz, Philip Dawson and Michael Sims who are T-28.
Ryan Horn’s 72 leaves him in a share of 49th with Peter Tomasulo, one up on Kent Jones (T-60) and two up on Randy Lowry (T-70).
At Beaumont, Calif., Tour member Brendan Steele fired a nine under 63 to take a two stroke lead heading into Thursday.
Craig Kanada and Barrett Jarosch both shot 67 to sit in a tie for seventh, one ahead of Brett Lederer (T-11) and two ahead of Chris Anderson, Andres Gonzales, Liam Kendregan, Jeff Wood and Matt Marshall who are in a tie for 15th.
Kirk Triplett, Mark Hensby, Stephen Leaney and Doug LaBelle are T-27, while Dennis Paulson, Michael Walton and Aaron Goldberg are T-41.
Both Andy Walker and Dan Buchner are T-52, two ahead of Scott Gibson and Stuart Anderson (T-62).
With the Top-20 and ties advancing, Brady Schnell (T-68) and the duo of Jason D’Amore and David Hahn (T-73) have some catching up to do.
Those advancing to final stage are guaranteed at least Nationwide Tour status in 2010.
The European Tour Q-School kicks off Friday on four fronts.
