McKinney, TX (Sports Network) - Justin Hicks fired a 2-under-par 69 on
Friday to secure sole possession of the lead after two rounds of the season-
ending Web.com Tour Championship.
The top 60 players are in the field this week, but only the top 25 on the
money list at the tournament's conclusion will earn PGA Tour cards for 2013
Hicks, one of six overnight leaders, sits at 8-under 134 after two rounds and
has already secured his PGA Tour card for next season. At No. 11 on the money
list, he is still seeking his first Web.com Tour win of the year despite
producing nine top-10 finishes and 13 top-25 results.
Brad Fritsch and Justin Bolli were among the Day 1 leaders, but both golfers
carded a 71 on Friday to fall into a tie for second place. The former is 21st
on the money list, while the latter is 44th and will need to turn in a strong
performance the rest of the weekend to earn his card.
Hicks made the turn at 1-under, then recorded eight straight pars, allowing
Fritsch to pull within a shot with a birdie on the par-3 15th.
Fritsch, who is attempting to reach the PGA Tour for the first time in his
career, finished with a trio of pars, while Hicks rattled home a birdie on the
last to move two strokes clear.
Another Thursday leader, Michael Putnam, sits 30th on the money list and is
tied for fourth place with last week's Jacksonville Open winner Russell
Henley, James Hahn and Scott Gardiner at 5-under 137.
Henley (3), Hahn (13) and Gardiner (14) all reside within the top-25 in
earnings.
On the other end of the spectrum, bubble-watch candidate Camilo Benedetti sits
near the bottom of the leaderboard at 3-over. The Columbian will need to make
a significant charge in order to maintain his No. 25 money-list ranking.
On the outside looking in at No. 26 and $287 behind Benedetti is Doug LaBelle
II, who sits at 1-under 141.
The Web.com Tour Championship offers the largest purse of the season at $1
million; affording PGA hopefuls a significant opportunity to improve their
money-list standings.
First place for the tournament garners $180,000, second place takes home
$108,000 and third place earns $68,000.
NOTES: Money-list No. 1 Casey Wittenberg shot 71 on Friday. He is tied for
14th place with two others at 3-under...Tag Ridings, No. 51 on the money list,
held a share of the first-round lead, but shot 73 on Friday to fall into a tie
for eighth place at 4-under...Every winner this season on the Web.com Tour is
in the field this week. Wittenberg, Luke Guthrie, Henley, Shawn Stefani and
Ben Kohles are the only players with two tour wins this season.
The Sports Network