It鈥檚 simply one of the built-in vagaries of an outdoor sport that afternoon conditions may differ dramatically from those in the morning.
In golf, it can affect outcomes.
It could have Friday at Uplands in the second round of the Bayview Place DC Bank Open presented by the sa国际传媒. Morning golfers got cloudy but dry conditions while afternoon golfers got rain. But that didn鈥檛 stop Zach Wright, who overcame a late tee-off time, to shoot a soggy 4-under 66 to maintain his lead with a two-round total of 128.
鈥淚 really had to battle out there [in the those conditions], for sure,鈥� said the graduate of the NCAA LSU Tigers, who has had Web.com Tour experience, since turning pro in 2016.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no secret formula. I just have to keep putting it well. I played it safe enough to keep the bogies away.鈥�
The native of Phoenix, Arizona, continued his recent run of fine play. He finished tied for second, earning $17,600, last week at the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey in Vancouver, which was the opening event of the 2018 Mackenize Tour-PGA Tour sa国际传媒 season.
鈥淲hen you鈥檝e been in the hunt recently, it helps, because you鈥檙e more familiar with being in that situation and you just continue on with it,鈥� said Wright.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always nervous a bit, but I鈥檓 handling that well.鈥�
Torrid morning starts, in dry conditions, highlighted the day. Morning starters Jared du Toit of Kimberley, at 6-under 64, and Aaron Cockerill of Manitoba and Wes Heffernan of Calgary, both with 4-under 66s, stamped a big, fat Maple Leaf on proceedings and put the 鈥渟a国际传媒鈥� in the second Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour sa国际传媒 stop of the season.
Cockerill was two back from Wright with a two-round total of 130, tied for second with American Sam Fidone. That was followed by Heffernan and du Toit, tied for fourth at 131.
鈥淭hree Canadian flags at the top,we haven鈥檛 seen that in a while, so that鈥檚 good to see,鈥� said Cockerill.
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure if it will hold, but I鈥檒l be in one of the later groups [today], and that鈥檚 what we play for. This is my favourite event, city, golf course. I had a feeling I was going to play pretty well here. It鈥檚 been good so far, so just two more days, and more of the same.鈥�
Veteran pro Heffernen, 41, twice played in the U.S. Open and made the cut in that prestigious showcase in 2011. Earlier in the week, at the Golf sa国际传媒 national training centre on Bear Mountain, du Toit was named to the Team sa国际传媒 Young Pro squad with Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., the latter who was tied for 18th at Uplands with 135 after two rounds.
Afternoon starter Jake DuVall, a sponsor鈥檚 exemption as Uplands club champion, fashioned a compelling story on his home course by comfortably making the cut with an even-par round Friday for a 136 total.
DuVall used to caddy for the pro golfers in this tournament, including carrying the bag for current PGA Tour player Tony Finau, in 2013 at Uplands.
鈥淭his feels great, almost surreal, from watching last year to be playing this year,鈥� said DuVall.
鈥淲hen formerly caddying in the tournament, I always wanted to be out here playing instead,鈥� added the 24-year-old Oak Bay High grad, who golfed collegiately at Southwest Oklahoma, and who now has conditional status on the Mackenzie Tour.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 think of a better place to start my pro career and play my first pro tournament. Especially knowing the course so well, and what shots work here and which don鈥檛. I was 3-over par early in my round today, but I knew there were still lots of birdies left out there. I felt a lot of support out there among [Uplands] club members.鈥�
The cut was set at 2-under 138.
Riley Wheeldon of Comox, top 10 overall and top Canadian last weekend at Point Grey, also made the cut by recording an eagle and shooting a 66 Friday for a 3-under two-round total of 137, the same as Eugene Wong of North Vancouver. Amateur Kevin Carrigan of Royal Colwood also made the cut with two 69s for a 138 after two rounds.
Jimmy Jones, son of the late LPGA star Dawn Coe-Jones of Lake Cowichan, was 5-over 145 and missed the cut in just his second pro tournament after making the cut last week at Point Grey.
Also among the casualties was Broc Everett, who finished 3-over 143 to miss the cut. Two weeks ago, Everett joined the heady likes of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Ben Crenshaw, by winning the NCAA championship.
