Scott Brown and Matt Kuchar share the halftime lead at the RBC Canadian Open at 12-under par. The duo were one-shot clear of Canada’s Nick Taylor and Brandt Snedeker who were tied for third.
Brown carded a bogey-free round of 63, highlighted by five-straight birdies on Nos. 2-6, along with an eagle on the par-5 17th hole, to secure a share of the top spot.
“Just a lot of good iron shots. Kind of was feeling it with the irons and had a lot of good looks for birdies most of them,” said Brown, who holds a world ranking of No. 250.
Co-leader Kuchar also signed for a 63, but got there by the way of eight birdies against one bogey.
“I’m really enjoying the golf course,”
said Kuchar, who has already won twice on the season.
“Good shots are rewarded with birdie opportunities; bad shots get penalized. This rough is nasty.
“The greens are pitched in such a way where you don’t want to be chipping very often around here. You want to find yourself on the green with kind of uphill putts if you can get them.”
The best round of the day went to Snedeker, who shot a flawless 10-under 60, which included eight birdies and an eagle, en route to a two-day total of 11-under par, good for T3 alongside home favorite Taylor (65), a 31-year old from Winnipeg.
Taylor was one of four Canadians to land in the top-7, and within four shots of the lead.
Webb Simpson was solo fifth on 10-under par following a Friday round of 64. One further back, alone in the sixth spot, was a second Canadian in Adam Hadwin (66) at 9-under par, one clear of countryman Mackenzie Hughes (66) and Benjamin Silverman (61), who were among a six-pack of players tied for seventh at 8-under par.
Round-2 Leaderboard: Top-5
1. Scott Brown -12 (-7)
1. Matt Kuchar -12 (-7)
3. Nick Taylor -11 (-5)
3. Brandt Snedeker -11 (-10)
5. Webb Simpson -10 (-6)
Top-20 Ranked Notables
World Rank-Player (To Par, Pos)
01. Brooks Koepka (-4, T33)
02. Dustin Johnson (-4, T33)
04. Rory McIlroy (-7, T13)
06. Justin Thomas (-5, T28)
13. Matt Kuchar (-12, T1)
19. Bubba Watson (-2, T55)
20. Webb Simpson (-10, 5)
