Round 2: Viking Classic
July 16 2011
1:45 pm
Haas, Lonard share lead
By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM
Last year, Bill Haas won the Viking Classic. Halfway through this year’s weather-plagued event, it’s Hunter Haas (no relation) who has a share of the top spot after a second-round 64.
With rain and lightning resulting in several delays Friday, the second round didn’t get completed until Saturday.
Weather, however, wasn’t an issue today and Haas, along with co-leader Peter Lonard, took advantage. Case in point: Haas hit every green in regulation.
“The greens are so good here, it’s just a matter of getting in position and get the putter rolling,” said Haas, who leads the field in greens in regulation and has just one bogey through 36 holes.
Haas’ group was also put on the group during the round, though it clearly didn’t impact him.
“I birdied the last four on the clock,” Haas said. “Maybe I’ll get put on the clock starting the third round.”
Lonard, meanwhile, is just happy to be playing after hip and knee surgery last year.
He also was on his way to this week’s Nationwide event when he got the call that he’d gotten into the Viking Classic. Lonard, who will turn 44 on Sunday, took advantage of the opportunity with a second-round 65.
How will he hold up the rest of the way on what’s already been a very long week?
“I’m pretty old, so I’m not sure,” Lonard said. “I will tell you by the end of the day I suppose.”
Round 2: Viking Classic
July 15 2011
7:58 pm
Play suspended, will resume at 7 a.m.
Play at the Viking Classic was again suspended at 6:40 p.m. CT.
In the hour of play that proceeded this latest suspension, Blake Adams completed his second-round 62, while Bobby Gates and Chris Kirk also made it to the clubhouse at double digits under par.
Troy Matteson and George McNeill share the lead at 12 under. While Matteson is in the clubhouse after a second consecutive 66, McNeill is on the par-5 18th with a chance to get up and down for birdie from 25 yards out to take sole possession of the lead.
Round 2 will resume Saturday morning at 7 a.m. local time. Players will be hoping for better weather after a Friday that featured two delays totaling nearly six hours before the afternoon’s final stoppage.
6:25 pm
Play to resume at 6:40 p.m. ET
The off-again on-again off-again Viking Classic is back on with the second round set to resume at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Play was scheduled to resume just after 6 p.m. when players were again called off the course because of dangers weather that popped up I nthe area. It’s apparently moved on, however, and there will be golf again shortly.
6:01 pm
Not so fast, horn sounds again
The resumption of the second round will have to wait.
The horn just sounded again, signaling more dangerous weather in the area. Players have been called back in.
5:30 pm
Second round to resume at 6:15 p.m. ET
The driving range is now open at Annandale Golf Club, where the second round is set to resume at 6:15 p.m. ET.
When play does resume, George McNeill will be trying to build on his one-shot lead, while Tom Pernice, who has just two holes left, will be trying to catch him.
2:55 pm
Round 2 delayed due to weather
The second round of the Viking Classic has been delayed due to inclement weather. No word yet on when play will resume.
George McNeill currently leads at 12 under for the tournament. He’s 7 under on his second round through 13 holes.
Blake Adams has the best round going thus far; he’s 10 under through 17 holes at the par-72 Annandale Golf Club.
Only a handful of players have managed to complete their second rounds.
First-round co-leaders Tim Petrovic, John Mallinger and Brendon de Jonge have yet to tee off.
12:34 pm
Gates finally finds rhythm
Bobby Gates was a latecomer to the top of the leaderboard Thursday, and he’s still up there — in a tie for second at the moment — through the first seven holes of his second round.
Part of the morning wave, Gates is hoping to take advantage of soft conditions after storms rolled through the area earlier. He’s already well ahead of how he played the last three weeks when he missed the cut each time.
“I’ve been struggling lately. Just been really close and haven’t made it, haven’t really got any momentum going,” Gates said Thursday. “So my new goal this week is just to keep [momentum from the first round] going. Keep thinking about hitting it like I’ve been hitting it. It hasn’t really been rewarded lately, so hopefully this week will be the start of it.
"I hit it really close all day. I played really well, but I left a lot out there. I could have been really good. Hopefully, I’ll capitalize on that the rest of the week."
8:53 am
Rd. 2 delayed due to wet conditions
The start of Friday’s second round at the Viking Classic has been delayed two hours due to heavy rains on Thursday night.
The first groups will now begin at 10:10 a.m. ET.
This week, 2.34 inches of rain has fallen in Madison, Miss. On Thursday night, the recorded rainfall was 1.20 inches; on Wednesday, it was 1.12 inches.
Scattered thunderstorm are forecast for the area on Friday.
Round 1: Viking Classic
July 14 2011
8:01 pm
Wrapping up Round 1
The first day of play at Annandale Golf Club ended much like the early wave — with a slew of golfers tied atop the leaderboard.
The 7 under mark, reach five times in the early going, was matched once in the afternoon and those six players will share the overnight lead after one round of play at the Viking Classic. Brendon de Jonge, Tim Petrovic, Bobby Gates, Sunghoon Kang, John Mallinger and Peter Lonard each posted opening 65s with Gates being the only player to reach the mark in the afternoon.
Scott Piercy briefly reached 8 under, but surrendered four shots before closing with a birdie and a 5-under 67. He’s still one of 47 players at 4 under or better following 18 holes of play.
Six past champions of the Viking Classic teed it up Thursday at Annandale Golf Club with Cameron Beckman and D.J. Trahan leading the way after 4-under 68s. Will MacKenzie (69) and Heath Slocum (70) are also in red numbers.
6:36 pm
Leaderboard update: Crowded on top
Late in the opening round at Annandale GC, six players are currently tied for first place at 7 under — Tim Petrovic, John Mallinger, Brendon de Jonge, Peter Lonard, Sunghoon Kang and Bobby Gates all share the top spot.
Kang parred five consecutive holes and then finished his round with a birdie on his final hole.
Scott Piercy and Fabian Gomez each are each 6 under with a few holes left in their respective rounds, so they do have a chance to take the lead. Piercy actually did briefly move in front to 8 under before a double bogey on No. 5 (his 14th hole of the day) dropped him back.
Meanwhile, Eric Axley is at the other end of the leaderboard after an 84. He had seven bogeys, three double bogeys and one birdie.
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network 
