Trio shares lead heading into weekend at Fort Smith
By Joe Chemycz, PGA TOUR Staff
FORT SMITH, Ark. -- The color of the day in Round 2 of the Fort Smith Classic was pink in honor of breast cancer awareness and education but the leaderboard was awash in red numbers as Gavin Coles, Chris Tidland and Jason Enloe matched 11-under 129 totals to share the second-round lead.
Coles fired a 4-under 66 at Hardscrabble Country Club, which measures out to 6,783 yards and is the shortest course on the Nationwide Tour's 29-tournament schedule. Tidland posted a career-best an 8-under 62 and Enloe added a bogey-free 65 to join the clubhouse leaders late in the afternoon.
Kris Blanks and former Arkansas Razorback Brendan Pappas each posted 65s to share fourth place, three back at 8-under 132. First-round leader Phil Tataurangi carded a 1-over 71 and is tied for sixth place with Dustin Risdon (68) at 7-under 133.
A total of 70 players made the 36-hole cut, which came at even-par 140.
Friday's theme was "Pink on the Links," (click here for more) and players, volunteers and fans were encouraged to wear pink to support the Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
"To see somebody not wearing pink is the exception," said Ryan Hietala. "I think this is a great way for all of us to reach out in support of those affected by breast cancer."
Coles, runner-up here in 2002, played his first nine in even-par before catching fire coming in. The Australian used three birdies and an eagle to get to 12-under before a fluffed chip on the final hole led to a closing bogey.
"I hit an awful second shot on the last hole. I had a funny lie there," said Coles. "The ball was sitting way up above the ground and the grass and I nearly went straight under it. I was actually lucky to hit it as far as I did. It was nice to get away with a bogey in the end."
Coles walked away from his morning round feeling good for a change. The diminutive Aussie averages only 264 yards off the tee and is ranked No. 134 on Tour, but the searing heat index of 100-plus degrees is doing wonders for his ego.
"I like it when it's hot because the ball goes further I think," he said. "I'm infected with that short hitter's disease but I hit one about 330 down number six today, although the tees were up about 15 yards so maybe it was only 315."
Coles wound up making eagle at the par-5 hole after hitting his 4-iron to eight feet and making the putt.
Tidland also eagled that same 533-yard hole, though the former Oklahoma State standout only needed an 8-iron for his second shot.
"It could have been better but it could have been worse," said Tidland after posting the low round of the day. "I made a lot of putts in the six to 12-foot range, the ones you want to make but don't make all of them. Today I made most of them. I don't want it (the day) over."
Tidland and Enloe are in unfamiliar territory now. The two have a combined seven starts over the years in Northwest Arkansas but until now, neither had broken par, let alone made the cut.
Tidland says his home course in Stillwater plays to a similar right-to-left routing off the tees.
"I've always had trouble hitting fairways here," he said after hitting 11 of 13 in round two. "You've got to hit it on the right line out here with the right curve. It's not bombs away."
Enloe was 0-for-3 at Hardscrabble but has moved to the top of the leaderboard thanks to an improved short game. The 35-year-old Dallas resident hit only six of 13 fairways and 11 of greens but one-putted 12 times as he joined Coles and Tidland.
"My short game kept me in it. On the first side I didn't hit a lot of quality shots but I didn't get myself in any trouble," he said. "I made a lot of putts from six to 12 feet, the scoring range. I converted a lot of them. I've finally started playing better, I just haven't gotten a lot out of my rounds. I knew it was getting closer."
Who could have known it would happen here for Enloe, who also admitted that the tree-lined layout should be one that suits his game.
"I like to shape the ball in both directions," he said. "You don't have to be that long to play this course. I like this style of golf. It should, but it hasn't."
Second-Round Notes:
• Jay Williamson withdrew during the second round due to a back injury.
• Mike Heinen was disqualified when he did not show up for his second-round tee time.
• Friday's scoring average was 70.565.
• Saturday's tee times will run from 7:00 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. with an expected finish time of 4:00 p.m. CT.
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