New Leader After Day Two at the Ally Challenge

Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Grand Blanc, MI — August 27, 2022

Fred Funk shot 65 in the opening round of the Ally Challenge presented by McLaren. Saturday, his score increased by 10 strokes as he posted a second-round 75. After going bogey-free on Friday, he could only manage a single birdie against four of the square marked numbers in a round that could only be described as “funky.” Ok, enough of that.

It was not the course toughening up that led to Funk’s reversal in fortunes. Scott Dunlap tied the PGA Tour Champions record low score at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club with a 63 to take over the lead at 11 under par. Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington, and Brett Quigley sit one stroke back at -10. There are 16 players within four strokes of the lead beginning play in Sunday’s final round.

Hot Rounds and Some That Were Not

After carding four birdies on the front nine. Dunlap birdied five of the last six holes to charge his way up the leaderboard. It was a second-round 64 that vaulted Stricker into the tie for second. Harrington and Quigley got there by shooting 66. A 67 brought Ernie Els into a tie for fifth at nin-under par.

Defending Ally Challenge Champion Joe Durant shot 67 to move into contention at eight under. David Toms and Wes Short, Jr. matched Durant’s first two rounds to join him just three strokes off the lead.

David Branshaw and Lee Janzen went in the opposite direction. Rounds of 75 took away any chance they had to see their name on the winner’s trophy. A 76 dropped Scott Parel from fifth into a tie for 43rd.

Notables

Bernhard Langer (70,69) is five under with Jim Furyk (69,70). Former champions Jerry Kelly (70,70) and Paul Broadhurst (69, 71) joined Funk at four under.

John Daly is one-under-par. David Duval sits in a tie for 69th at four over. Former Masters champion Larry Mize has the dubious honor of training the entire field at seven-over-par.

Brian Gay made the shot of the day, a hole-in-one on No. 11 with a 6-iron from 180 yards.

Celebrity Challenge Fun

Jack Nicklaus, Kane Brown, Dylan Larkin, Jalen Rose, Anthony Dirrell, Kim Moore, and Charlie Bell entertained the fans with a mini-tournament to benefit charity. The highlight of the 4-hole team scramble exhibition match occurred on the 17th tee.

After Jalen Rose repeatedly missed the ball, swinging wildly in an attempt to knock it over the water and onto the green. Jack Nicklaus was called upon to offer some advice. Jack, a full foot shorter than Rose, took the club and held it up to the former University of Michigan basketball player. Pointing at the face of the iron, Nicklaus said, “This is the part that you hit the ball with.

The Kane Brown Concert

The size of the crowd at the Kane Brown concert Saturday night at the Ally Challenge speaks to the country music artist’s popularity.

Leaderboard at The Ally Challenge from Warwick Hills