Last week one of the pros playing in Saturday’s final threesome of the TrueNorth Greater Cedar Rapids Open, presented by Granite City Food & Brewery, was collecting a check at a PGA Tour event.
The other two pros in the group were missing the cut at the Waterloo Open.
None of the matters today when they all tee it up for the $25,000 first-place prize at the GCRO.
Grant Leaver (Centerville, TN), who holds a one-shot lead over Mitchell Holm after Friday’s second round play, finished T42 last week at the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Open in Opelika, AL. It earned him a little over $11,000.
Leaver followed up his 5-under 67 Thursday with a 9-under 63 on Friday. The 14-under total is good for a one-shot lead over Homb (Dixon, IL) and a three-shot lead over first-round leader Ryan Argotsinger, former Iowa standout Nate Yankovich and Michael Davan.
“Today I got off to a good start,” Leaver said in an email “(I) made a few putts early and I just tried to keep it going best I could by keeping the ball in front of me and that paid off because I was able to get a stretch of holes where I rolled some more putts in. “
The 2008 grad of Austin Peay State University, Leaver played in some Web.com events but failed to make a cut. He had seven birdies and an eagle Friday.
Homb tied the competitive course record of 11-under 61 Friday to surge into contention. The Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville player and grad had 11 birdies and no bogeys in his round. He tied the mark of Mark Blakefield (2016) and Brock Mulder (2011).
Homb was a modest 3-under par through his first eight holes, starting on the back nine. He then birdied eight of his final 10 holes including five in a row from Nos. 18 through No. 4.
“Lots of nerves at the end, but I just did my best to keep executing,” said Homb. “This was my career best round by two shots.
“I knew I had it going when I drove it way right on No. 3 and hit a great recovery shot to 12 feet and made slick putt coming down the hill. I had a couple par saves that were the key. Got lucky and hit the flag coming out of the left bunker on 14 and made a great two-putt from about 60 feet on No. 7.”
Yankovich (Blacklick, OH) shot an 8-under 66 as the leaders will tee off at 11:30 a.m.
Argotsinger shot a 1-under 71 and Davan, 28 (Zionsville, IN) , who played in the U.S. Open last year at Chambers Bay and has competed on the PGA Latinoamerica Tour, shot his second straight 5-under 67 to climb into contention. Those two will be joined by Zach Wright (Stuart, FL), who shot 5-under 67.
Wright is tied at 9 under with Brian Richey (Lakeland, FL), Peter Creighton (Kenmore, NY) and another former Iowa player, Carson Schaake (Omaha, NE).
Scott Pieri (Ft. Wayne, IN) shot a solid 4-under 68 and leads the Senior Division by five shots over Clay Devers (Shawnee Mission, KS).
In the Amateur Division, Mt. Mercy golfer William Bruyeres retains the lead at 2-under but Matt Junge (6-under 66, 8-under 28 on front nine), Andrew Wood and Max Thrune are all two shots back.
The awards ceremony is set for approximately 4:30 p.m.
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