Day Two of the Ally Challenge Presented by McLaren

Saturday, September 15th Warwick Hills CC, Grand Blanc, MI

Yesterday’s leader, Brandt Jobe, teed off today on the front nine. His playing partners Esteban Toledo and Jeff Maggert had both made runs at Jobe yesterday. A birdie on the par 4 5th hole pushed Jobe to 8 under. But, that’s where he remained, making par on every other hole on the course.

Maggert ran off 5 straight pars to start his round. Then he birdied the 6th, 7th, and 8th to get to 9 under par at the turn.

Tom Lehman teed off in the group just before Jobe. He birdied holes 2, 5, and 7 to go to 8 under. A bogey on 9 dropped him out of a tie with Jobe. Still, he remained in striking distance of the lead heading to the back nine.

Paul Broadhurst got the crowd going early as he birdied 6 of the first 7 holes. A bogey on the par 3 third hole left him with a 5 under par 31 for nine. After starting at 5 under after yesterday’s round Broadhurst held the lead at the halfway point of the round.

Day Two Produces a Big Mover Up the Leaderboard

Scott McCarron shot 1 under on day one. He teed off on the back nine to start his 2nd round. After making par on the 10th, he went birdie, eagle, birdie to move up the leaderboard.

Making the turn to the front nine McCarron got hot again. He birdied the 1st and 2nd hole to go 7 under. A bogey at the 3rd cost him a stroke. He got that stroke back with a birdie on the 5th. McCarron closed out his round with birdies at 7, 8, and 9 to become the leader in the clubhouse at 10 under.

McCarron drained a long birdie putt on the par 3 8th. He overshot the green with his 2nd shot on #9. His chip shot, a beautiful bump and run, found the bottom of the hole to give him the lead.

Day Two Leaders

Lehman birdied 3 holes on the back nine, avoided the bogeyman, and carded a two-round total of 10 under to tie McCarron.

Maggert birdied 13 and 14 to push the lead to 11 under. A bogey at the 15th dropped him into a tie with McCarron and Lehman.

In the Hunt After Day Two

Mark O’Meara, 1 under after Friday’s round, started on the back nine. He birdied the first 5 holes. A bogey at the 15th stopped the birdie run. But, not for long. O”Meara birdied 16 and 17 to get to 7 under par. Two more birdies on the front nine put him 1 stroke out of the lead after day two.

Tom Byrum finished day one at 3 under par. He started strong with birdies on 1 and 2 before a bogey on 3 derailed his progress. Byrum birdied the first 5 holes on the back nine. A bogey on 15 cost him a share of the lead. His birdie on the 16th left him with a day two total of 9 under par.

Paul Broadhurst could not keep the early magic going. Two bogeys and a birdie on the back nine left him a stroke out of the lead also. Toledo carded 4 birdies and a bogey, passing playing partner Jobe to tie Broadhurst, Byrum, and O’Meara at 9 under. Jobe finished tied for 8th with David McKenzie at 8 under par.

Day Two Disappointments

Vijay Singh sat at 6 under after Friday’s opening round. His day two round of 3 birdies and 2 bogies left him 3 strokes out of the lead.

Jerry Smith shot a 4 under par round of 68 on day one. But, an even-par round of 72 caused him to drop from a tie for 10th into a tie for 31st heading to day three.

Tomorrow’s Finish

There are 30 players within 5 strokes of the lead heading into Sunday’s final round. It is really anybody’s tournament to win. Full final Day coverage from The Lasco Press.

Second Round Results of the Ally Challenge Presented by McLaren