Three share lead; Wie misses cut in Bay Mills

Three golfers share the lead and several remain within a shot of a victory as a competitive Bay Mill Open continues.

The second round is nearly complete at the Bay Mills Open Players' Championship in Brimley, Michigan, the final tournament of the Canadian Tour season. With several golfers stranded in Thursday's thunderstorms, many players were forced to finish round one and play round two on Friday at the Wild Bluff Golf Club.

As darkness set in shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday night, play was halted with 25 golfers yet to complete their second round of play.

Canadian Doug McGuigan and Americans Rodney Butcher and Chris Wall share the lead after 36 holes with a 3-under 141. Oshawa's Derek Gillespie, Alex Quiroz, Paul Devenport, Michael Sabo and first round leader Michael Harris all sit one shot back at 2-under par.

David Burbidge also sits at 3-under par but has only completed 13 of 18 second round holes. Northern Ontario Open champion Mario Tizianni stands at 1-over par.

Teenage sensation Michelle Wie, a 13 year-old female golfer from Hawaii playing in the Open on a Golf Channel exemption, struggled in round two with a 7-over 79 to finish with a two-day total of 9-over par. With a projected cut of 4-over par, Wie has been eliminated from competition.

The 25 golfers yet to complete round two will resume play this morning at 7:30 a.m. Third round action is expected to begin later in the morning.

The Golf Channel, local cable 54, will televise live third and final round coverage today and Sunday from noon until 2 p.m.

The eventual winner will receive a cheque for $37,600. Competition remains high as several golfers are in a desperate search for a large Bay Mills payday. Many golfers remain in contention for a top two finish on the Order of Merit, the CanTour's Money list. The top two receive an exemption into the second round of the PGA Tour Qualifying School.