San Jacinto, CA – Miguel Angel Carballo and Peter Lonard shot under 68s on Friday to share the lead midway through the Soboba Golf Classic.
Carballo had seven birdies and four bogeys, while Lonard had six birdies and three bogeys at the Country Club at Soboba Springs to finish 36 holes at nine- under 133. The pair both have winning experience, although Lonard trumps Carballo with 10 wins as a professional, including nine internationally.
"I drove the ball very well today," Carballo said. "I feel like my game is coming around and I'm playing pretty good. I have a lot of confidence right now."
Lonard's biggest victory was at the 2005 MCI Heritage on the PGA Tour, while Carballo captured the 2007 Movistar Panama Championship on the Nationwide Tour.
They aren't the only contenders this week, however, as Rob Oppenheim (66), Tim Wilkinson (65) and Bradley Iles (69) share third at eight-under. Of the three, only Oppenheim has won before -- with two international wins in 2006.
After delays forced the first round to finish Friday morning, the second round went on without any further issues to get the tournament back on schedule.
Cameron Percy, who led after the opening round was completed Friday, tumbled to a two-over 73 in the second round and shares sixth at minus-six with eight other players.
Both players started on the back nine, and Carballo had a slightly better time on his opening nine that Lonard.
Carballo played his first nine at three-under, first posting birdies on Nos. 11 and 14 before a bogey at the 16th. He rode some momentum into the back nine with consecutive birdies at 17 and 18 to get to nine-under early.
Lonard opened his round with the first of his three bogeys, but followed with back-to-back birdies to get to seven-under. He slipped back to even-par for the day with a bogey at the 14th, but made the turn at minus-eight after birdies at the 15th and 18th.
Lonard began his final nine with his second straight birdie at the first hole, but bogeyed No. 3. He parred four in a row before his final birdie at the eighth helped him gain a share of the lead.
"This week is the worst I've hit it tee-to-green all year," Lonard said. "I guess I've putted pretty good. You hole a couple of putts and all of a sudden life changes."
Carballo shot even-par through his last nine holes, beginning with a bogey on the third. His score reached as low as 10-under after birdies at five and six, but followed with two straight bogeys from the seventh. A final birdie at the ninth put him in the final pairing for Saturday.
Percy had a miserable day that would have been worse if not for a late surge. He had three straight bogeys from the 14th to fall to six-under after nine holes and another at No. 3, but two straight birdies from the fifth helped him manage to stay in contention.
NOTES: A total of 64 players made the cut, which fell at 2-under 139...Each of the top 25 money winners this year participated this week, and 11 made the cut...Russell Henley and Harris English both made the cut in their first professional event.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.