McGirt, Piercy share lead at Canadian Open

Associated Press

ancaster, ontario

Scott Piercy is discovering that not everything you dislike is bad for you.

After two rounds in the Canadian Open, Piercy had a share of the lead with William McGirt — and had seen just about enough of Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

“This golf course takes the juices out of it for me,” Piercy said Friday after following his opening 8-under 62 with a 67 to match the tournament 36-hole scoring record at 11-under 129.

McGirt had a 67 in the second round on the classic Harry S. Colt-designed course.

Robert Garrigus was two strokes back after a 66, and Bo Van Pelt was 9 under after a 66. Tim Clark, Vijay Singh and Josh Teater were 8 under. Clark had a 62, Singh shot 67, and Teater 65.

British Open champion Ernie Els missed the cut with rounds of 72 and 70.

“It’s unfortunate I didn’t have my game with me,” Els said. “There’s always next time.”

The tight, tree-lined layout demands precision and often forces players to play it safe.

“This golf is boring golf for me,” said Piercy, the Reno-Tahoe Open winner last year for his lone PGA Tour title. “I’m not going for it. I’m not trying to put my foot on the accelerator. I’m kind of touch and go.”

SENIOR BRITISH OPEN

TURNBERRY, Scotland

American Gary Hallberg shot a 7-under 63 in the windy second round of the Senior British Open to take a three-stroke lead over Bernhard Langer and Tom Lehman.

EVIAN MASTERS

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France

American Stacy Lewis shot a 3-under 69 to top the Evian Masters leaderboard at 12 under, a stroke ahead of South Korea’s Ilhee Lee.

Lewis opened with a 63 on Thursday. Lee followed her opening 66 with a 67.

South Korea’s Inbee Park and American Paula Creamer were 9 under.