Sisk assumes second round lead with 67, Egloff lurks one behind

     Rockport, ME-Two-time player of the year Geoff Sisk followed up his
opening 64 with a 3-under par 67 for a 9-under par total and holds a one stroke lead heading into the final round. Defending Champion Eric Egloff fired a 4-under par 66 and lurks just one shot back. Billy Downes and Scott Halwey stand tied for third at 5-under par while Eli Zackheim rounds out the top five following his blistering second round 5-under par 65.
     After a relatively quiet front nine of even par, Sisk staked his claim to the lead starting with an eight foot birdie on the 10th hole. He then drained two 15 footers on the 12th and 14th holes and offset his lone back nine bogey on the 15th hole with a quick bounce back birdie on the par 4, 16th hole."I'm not really thinking about the win," said Sisk, who is looking forhis third win on tour this season, two more than any other player. Even with veterans Eric Egloff and Billy Downes within striking distance, Sisk refuses to focus on anything or anyone but his own game. "I don't play my opponent," he said flatly.
     Egloff, too, started slowly like Sisk but took advantage of a hot stretch during the middle of his round. Even par though eight, he birdied the par 4, 9th hole to make the turn in 1-under par. After laying up with a 4-iron on the short par 4, 10th hole, he proceeded to hole his sand wedge for an eagle. Three holes later, he added a birdie on the 230 yard, par 3, 13th hole on the way to his second consecutive 66. For Egloff, much of his good play can be attributed to his liking for the venue. "I like the whole package" here, he said. "It's a beautiful place."As for his mental preparation, he just wants "to go out and relax and enjoy it. I have no expectations at all," he said. "You have to throw expectations out the door."
    Billy Downes, whose second round 66 leaves him four shots behind Sisk, notched four birdies in a back nine 32 and will need a similar display of fireworks in the final round if he plans to join Sean O'Hair as the only players who have recorded come from behind victories this year.
    Thirty-four players survived the 36-hole cut, which fell at 3-over par143. A purse of $73,800 and a winner's check of $12,700 are at stake in the final round.