Iles, Gardiner share lead in Raleigh
BY Bruce Young | Nationwide Tour | 2009 The Rex Hospital Open | Round Two | 30 May 2009
New Zealander Bradley Iles birdied his final two holes of round two at the Rex Hospital Open to continue a return to form and share the lead at the completion of round two in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Iles shares the lead with Australian Scott Gardiner, who improved sixty places with his second round of 63 and joined Iles, and Americans Jeff Gallagher and Jeff Curl at 9 under.
Iles is playing on only limited status on the Nationwide Tour this season but finished 6th at the recent event in Georgia and then despite missing the cut at the BMW Charity event in Greer still produced a round of 65 in round three. Iles has clearly found something with his game of late and the talented 25-year-old is headed in the right direction after missing his first two cuts in New Zealand earlier this season.
Gardiner putted brilliantly today after struggling on the greens in round one and might be on the verge of realising some of the potential many have considered he has possessed. Now 33, Gardiner has long promised more than he has delivered and, like Iles, the chance he has created for himself this week offers the opportunity to considerably improve his Nationwide Tour status in 2009.
Moneylist leader Michael Sim sits nicely positioned just two behind the lead along with New Zealander Grant Waite, Cameron Percy and Adam Bland are one shot further back, David McKenzie is next in 29th position while Andrew Buckle and Won Joon Lee are 58th.
A win for Sim this week would see him automatically on the PGA Tour for the rest of the season.
