Cranston, RI—Jeff Dantas was prepared for his second round before he even arrived at Cranston Country Club.

"I had been up at seven,” said Dantas. “I changed my daughter's diapers three times. I was playing with my other daughter, stretching my muscles, watering the lawn. Doing whatever I had to do to stay loose."

He then let loose on his home golf course, carding a 7-under 64 for a 10-under total and a two shot lead heading into the final round of the second annual Cranston Open. Matt Doyle, who played with Dantas during each round of the last Tour event, lurks just two shots back after a 5-under 66.

Having gone four years without missing a cut, Dantas received a helpful tip from his brother, who is caddying for him. “He said, ‘Let's go out and play to win the tournament instead of make the cut.’" Through two rounds, he is in position to do exactly that, courtesy of 11 birdies and an eagle.

Matt Doyle, meanwhile, held steady through trying early round conditions then blitzed the back nine in 4-under 32, tied for the low back side of the day.

"It felt like I was shooting baskets from behind the three-point arc,” said Doyle, who has hit 31 of 36 greens through two rounds. “I was hot. It was just a matter of figuring out what shot I needed. I had a chance of making
anything I got my hands on."

Sam Corden, 8th in last year’s Cranston Open, is tied for 4th, just three shots back. His bogey-free 68 was aided by words of encouragement from former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman, who has taken Corden
under his wing. "He said, 'you're swinging as good as or better than the guys on TV.’"

Dantas and Doyle enter the final round in search of their first win on the Cleveland Golf Tour. "I like being in the lead. I thrive on it, said Dantas. "But in a three day tournament, I've never been up near the lead, so we'll find out..."

“I’ll just try and stay loose,” said Doyle, “like I’m shooting three-pointers.”

First round leader Jesse Fitzgerald ballooned to a 3-over 74 on a day in which 39 players shot par or better. He stands tied for 18th with five others, including Rhode Island notables Chris Simmons and Jim Hallet.

This week's field includes several players with local Rhody connections, such as Brad Adamonis, Joey Iaciofano, Chris Simmons and Jeff Dantas, all of whom competed in the Pawtuxet Valley Junior Open series.

A purse of $86,400 and a winner’s share of $13,000 is at stake in Saturday’s final round.