Wheeldon stays in hunt for Q-school title

Derek Barron of Tacoma, Washington, used a bogey free round of 6-under 66, which included an eagle and four birdies, to grab the lead after Day 2 of the MacKenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada qualifying school at Crown Isle Resort in Courtenay on Wednesday.

Barron’s 11-under total of 133 is one shot better than Horacio Leon of Chile, who followed up his opening first-round lead of 66 with a 4-under 68.

“I actually hit my irons better and made a few less putts today, but I’m not going to be picky. I’m playing some really solid golf right now and it feels easy,” said Barron.

Americans Eric Onesi (67-68) and Jonathan Ruiz (69-67) sit third and fourth, respectively, while Riley Wheeldon of Comox (68-69) is tied for fifth with Brett Coletta (70-67), a PGA Tour of Australasia winner, who will make two PGA Tour starts later this season.

“For the most part I’m hitting a lot of greens, so I’ve got a lot of birdie looks. I haven’t had too many chances to make bogey. I definitely think there’re a lot of chances to go a bit lower, too, so that’s been encouraging,” said Wheeldon, who has recorded just one bogey so far.

Wheeldon is the top Canadian, ahead of Camosun College grad Brady Stead who has recorded rounds of 71-70 to sit tied for 19th.

The medallist winner will earn playing privileges for the entire season on tour while the next four placings will be exempt for the first eight events, subject to a second reshuffle based on money earned. The seventh to 16th placings are exempt for the first four events, subject to the first reshuffle. The remaining top 40 earn conditional status.

This is the last of five qualifying schools for the Mackenzie Tour, which fires up June 1-4 with the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. The tour then moves to Victoria the following week for the Bayview Place Cardtronics Open presented by the Times-Colonist, June 8-11 at Uplands Golf Club.