WINNIPEG, MB -- Wil Collins and Darren Griff each carded their second straight rounds of 3-under 68 Friday to share the lead at the halfway point of the MTS Classic. Collins and Griff completed 36 holes at 6-under-par 136.
Josh Habig used a 5-under 66 to move into a share of third at minus-5. He was joined there by Kent Fukushima, who shot 69 in round two. Bryan DeCorso, Dan Roberts and first-round leader Chris Wall are one stroke further back at 4-under-par 138.
Three separate weather delays Thursday pushed the completion of round one into Friday morning. There were no weather problems Friday as both the first and second rounds were completed at Pine Ridge Golf & Country Club.
Collins had carded seven birdies and three bogeys over his first 17 holes. His last hole was the difficult ninth. Collins missed the green, then pitched out of thick grass onto the putting surface.
He two-putted for bogey from there. The ninth yielded no birdies on Friday.
‘It’s just a tough hole,’ Collins stated. ‘It’s one of those holes that you know will take a couple from you over the week. I had a lot of action out there today. Anytime you make seven birdies, you have to be happy. I’ve been playing well. I just need a good weekend.’
Griff hit a stellar shot from under a tree on the par-5 12th onto the green. From 30 feet out, Griff poured in the eagle putt, but he lipped out a 4-foot par putt at the last to slip to minus-6.
‘I’m still a little hot right now, it’s a disappointing way to finish,’ admitted Griff after his closing bogey. ‘If you’re tied for the lead and don’t feel good, there’s something wrong. I think there are a lot of guys who would like to trade places with me. I’ll walk up to the tee tomorrow, pick and target and start again.’
Ryan Ellis, Wes Heffernan, Eugene Smith and Matt McQuillan share eighth place at 3-under-par 139. Dustin Risdon and Jim Seki are among seven players one stroke further back at minus-2.
The cut line fell at 2-over-par 144 with 64 players advancing to the final two rounds.
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