Cao Fires Bogey-Free 62 to Take 36-hole Lead at CRMC Championship

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  BRAINERD, Minn. – Helped by two birdies and an eagle to close out his front nine Friday, Li Cao set a tournament course record with an 8-under 62 Friday to move to the top of the leaderboard after two rounds of play at the 2023 CRMC Championship at Cragun’s Dutch Legacy.

Cao will take a five-stroke advantage over Americans Reid Davenport, Dylan Healey, Mason Glinski, Davis Shore and Canadian Drew Nesbitt to Saturday’s third round.

“I was this close to not playing this week because of my neck. I could barely swing a club yesterday morning,” said Cao, who entered the week 55th in the Fortinet Cup standings. “I’ve never had this feeling before and I had no expectations this week. But I know if I don’t play well this week, I can’t play next week.

“It was a great round and I’ll take that for sure. I needed to finish low, especially the last three holes [on the front nine] to make sure I make the cut because I never know which hole I’m going to blow.”

Beginning his second round on the 10th tee Friday, Cao converted an early birdie chance before playing the final three holes on his front side in 4-under, including an eagle at the par-5 18th.

Cao carried momentum to the back nine as he carded back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth holes to reach 11-under for the championship.

Tallying one final birdie at the par-5 seventh, Cao posted a 62 to take the 36-hole lead for the first time in his professional career.

“On the back nine, everything is more in front of you,” said Cao, who’s played holes 10 through 18 in 11-under through two rounds this week. “You don’t have to force yourself to carry something, and you can pick your target.”

Searching for his first Tour victory this week, New Mexico’s Healey made one of the bigger moves up the leaderboard Friday, climbing 39 spots by firing a second-round 7-under 63.

Healey converted three birdie chances during his front nine before stumbling to start his final nine holes with a bogey.

Charging back with birdies at the 11th and 14th holes, Healey finished the day by sinking three consecutive birdies to close out his round with a 63 to sit tied for second at 7-under 133.

“I was able to get off to a good start and then kept it rolling on the back,” Healey said following his round Friday. “Knew I had a getable finish and was able to finish with three straight.

“I’ve been pretty consistent out here—probably lacked a couple low numbers, but I know I have it in me and know I’ve been playing well. The putter definitely warmed up today and that was the difference maker.”

Americans J.T. Griffin, Corey Shaun, Blake Tomlinson and Sam Jean will begin Saturday’s third round six shots off Cao’s lead in a tie for seventh at 6-under 134.

Former Pepperdine University golfer Derek Hitchner fired a bogey-free 66 during Friday’s second round to lead Minnesotans in the field this week.

Making his seventh PGA Tour Canada start this week, Hitchner will play the weekend as he finished his first two rounds tied for 37th at 1-under 139.

“I was a little irritated with the putter today, only because I hit 16 or 17 greens and didn’t feel like I made a ton of putts,” Hitchner said Friday. “Really happy with how I hit the ball, so that’s a positive. I feel like a did a lot of good things, but it’s just a testament to how hard golf is.”

Hitchner earns an invitation to next week’s Fortinet Cup Championship next week as he sits well inside the top-60 at 38th in the standings.

“The objectives are pretty clear-cut for me because I was fortunate enough to finish high enough in PGA Tour University to earn a spot in the second stage of [Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School.

Former University of Minnesota golfer Thomas Longbella bounced back from his opening-round 72 by carding a 1-under 69 Friday, but he missed the cut by one stroke, finishing tied with Valparaiso University’s Caleb VanArragon at 1-over 141.

Grant Shafranski, a professional from North Oaks Golf Club, opened with an 8-over 78 Thursday before shooting 7-over 77 during Friday’s second round to miss the weekend cut by 15 strokes, while the Minnesota Wild’s Matt Boldy carded a final-round 80 to finish at 19-over 159.

The third round of the 2023 CRMC Championship is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at Cragun’s Dutch Legacy.



THE 2023 CRMC CHAMPIONSHIP
CRAGUN’S DUTCH LEGACY
BRAINERD, MINN.
7,001 YARDS, PAR 70


FRIDAY’S SECOND ROUND RESULTS
1. Yi Cao, China, 66-62—128
T2. Reid Davenport, United States, 67-66—133
T2. Dylan Healey, United States, 70-63—133
T2. Drew Nesbitt, Canada, 69-64—133
T2. Davis Shore, United States, 66-67—133
T7. J.T. Griffin, United States, 68-66—134
T7. Corey Shaun, United States, 69-65—134
T7. Blake Tomlinson, United States, 67-67—134
T7. Sam Jean, United States, 66-68—134

T37. DEREK HITCHNER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 73-66—139
MC. THOMAS LONGBELLA, UNIV. OF MINN., 72-69—141
MC. CALEB VANARRAGON (A), BLAINE, MINN., 70-71—141
MC. THOMAS LEHMAN, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., 76-69—145
MC. THOMAS AVANT, CHANDLER, ARIZ., 80-73—153
MC. GRANT SHAFRANSKI, NORTH OAKS GC, 78-77—155
MC. MATT BOLDY (A), MILFORD, MASS., 79-80—159


For complete tournament results go to: