Beal takes the lead at National Capital Open
Ross Beal hit his second shot on the 18th hole off the grandstand and into the gallery — small as it was — on Friday and then twoputted for a bogey to close out his second round at the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada National Capital Open to Support Our Troops.
That was by far that worst thing that happened to him all day at the Hylands Golf Club, as he took the outright lead at 11-under par with his round of 5-under 66 to follow up a 65 in Round 1. He has a twoshot lead.
“I didn’t hit it as well as yesterday, just ... (tried) to minimize mistakes,” said Beal, the Canton, Ohio, native who now calls Orland home.
“I saw some of the scores from the morning, so I knew guys were shooting 5-, 6-, 7-under, so I didn’t feel like there was any pressure to do a lot from my perspective. I was already close to the lead and I kept (the ball) in front of me so whenever I had birdie opportunities (I made them), and thankfully I had a bunch.”
In all, Beal had six birdies, including four on the back nine. He missed an eagle putt on the par 5 No. 15 by inches before tapping in for birdie.
Beal was a co-leader heading into the day, but by the time he started his round in mid-afternoon there was a new group of names near the top of the leaderboard.
Canadian Taylor Pendrith from Richmond Hill, Ont., was part of the group, temporarily moving into the lead at 9-under after shooting 7-under, the low round of the day. He was alone on top until Englishman Charlie Bull caught him with a 4-under 67.
“It’s been a good two days, Bull said. “I played solid and made a nice group of four birdies in a row on the back nine. It puts us in a good place for the weekend. When you don’t have your A game and you can still contend, if I have a good ball striking weekend anything can happen.”
As for Pendrith, who will be paired with Beal for Saturday’s third round, he had three bogeys Friday but luckily he also recorded an eagle and eight birdies, including five in a row and six in total on the back nine.
“I’m pleased with the score, obviously. I had three bogeys — pretty sloppy bogeys — and a couple three-putts,” Pendrith said. “If you shoot 7-under with three bogeys, you’re doing something right.”
Pendrith, who along with Beal are the longest hitters on the tour, was the first on the course Friday so he was able to take advantage of the fresh greens.
“The golf course was playing definitely easier than (Thursday). ... I was fortunate enough to make some putts; I hit a lot of good shots and played the par 5s well.”
There is a three-way tie for fourth heading into Saturday as Nyasha Mauchaza, Sam Ryder and J.J. Spaun are all at 8-under.
Four other players are tied for seventh, another stroke back, including Canadians Beon Yeung Lee of Montreal and Christopher Ross of Dundas, Ont.
Last year’s winner, Greg Machtaler of Prince George, B.C., was 1-under following the second round and missed the cut by a stroke.
I kept (the ball) in front of me so whenever I had birdie opportunities (I made them), and thankfully I had a bunch.