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Bartolacci maintains lead with 70, Harris lurks 3 behind following 66
Cranston, RI-Christian Bartolacci followed up his opening 63 with a 1-under par 70 in the second round and a 9-under par total to take a three shot lead heading into the final round of the Cranston Open. Corey Harris made a second round move with a 5-under par 66 that leaves him in solo second place, three shots back at 6-under par. Jim Hallet also carded a 66 and sits one shot further behind with Bart McCarthy. Seven players sit at 139, including money leader Sean O’Hair, Greater Bangor Open champion Matt Donovan and Jim West. “I’m really happy with the way I played,” said Bartolacci, who birdied the opening par 5, 1st hole then offset bogies at two and five with consecutive birdies on the 6th and 7th holes to make the turn in 1-under par. His round was also bolstered by an eagle on the par 5,13th hole. Bartolacci will enter the final round with the lead for the first time in a Cleveland event. While Bartolacci was bogeying two of his last four holes, Harris, meanwhile, positioned himself for a final round charge on the strength of a back nine rally that included birdies on four of his last five holes. Following a swing tip from Jeff Seavey prior to the first round, Harris is confident that his swing is “really close” as he attempts to capture his second Cleveland crown. Although both Hallett and McCarthy lie six shots back, the differences end there as Hallett is a former PGA Tour star while McCarthy is in just his first season on the Cleveland tour. “They call me the rookie,” said McCarthy. Angel and Ramon Franco, brothers of PGA Tour star Carlos Franco, both made the cut in their debut on the Cleveland Tour and stand tied for 21st place at even par 33 players survived the two day cut, which fell at 1-over par. A winner’s check of $12,500 is at stake in the final round. |
