Bloomfield, CT---Scott Ford and Eric Egloff both entered the first annual Wintonbury Hills Open struggling with their games. Ford missed the last two cuts by a combined seven shots while Egloff failed to finish in the top 15 in the last four Tour events. This week, however, has been a different story. Through two rounds, Ford and Egloff share the lead at 7-under-par following matching rounds of 67-66. Lowell Miller, buoyed by a 5-under 65 on day two, his first sub-70 round on Tour ever, lurks two shots behind and shares third place with Brennan Webb. First round leader John Curley slipped to a 1-over 71 and stands one shot ahead of Geoff Sisk.

"This is the best week of the year," said an emphatic Egloff, who is looking to double his season victory total to two after bagging the centennial Mass. Open in mid-June.

"Some weeks are better than others," he continued. "I'm just really comfortable with how I'm playing."

Bogey-free through 16 holes, Egloff's only blemish came courtesy of a wrong club selection on the difficult par-3 17th. For the week, he has played the par 5s 5-under.

Scott Ford, the other half of Thursday's final pairing, exacted a bit of second round revenge with his 4-under 66. Three weeks ago, he followed up his opening 67 at Cranston with a 10-over 81 to miss the cut. Last week, he double-bogeyed the 17th hole and missed the cut by three.

Nine 3s on his second round scorecard have him poised for his first CGT win in just his third start.

"The last time I was in contention I played well," said Ford, referring to his final round of 71 in a Canadian Tour event back in April. "We want to be in the heat. When you have a chance to win, that's what it's all about."

After 15 events, and only three made cuts, Lowell Miller's second round 65, the low round of the day, has him saddled between four players-Ford, Egloff, Webb and Sisk-- who have played on the PGA, Nationwide or Canadian Tours. Despite his relative inexperience, Miller this performance "was coming this year."

"I know I can do it," said Miller, when asked if he can win.

Forty-three players survived the two-day cut, which fell at 2-over 142.Joe Cioe, the Tour's 2001 POY, recorded his 11th career ace on the par-3 9th hole. A purse of $86,400 and a winner's check of $13,000 are at stake in the final round.