Gutschewski, Loar lead in suspended second round at Ellie Mae Classic

Hayward, Calif. — Scott Gutschewski and Edward Loar sit tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under during a suspended second round at the Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae. After play was suspended due to fog at 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, resumption of the first round was delayed until 11 a.m. on Friday due to more fog. Gutschewski completed 36 holes on Friday afternoon, but Loar’s round was suspended due to darkness through eight holes.

Entering Thursday at just 1-under (through 16 holes of his first round), Gutschewski capped his first round with a birdie before going low with a second-round 9-under 61 to take the lead on Friday afternoon.

“It’s the type of course where you hit a couple of good shots, make a couple of putts and get a couple of lucky bounces and all of the sudden you’re off and running,” said Gutschewski, who is No. 100 in the season-long Korn Ferry Tour points standings. “That’s how it went, I hit some good shots, obviously made some putts and the mediocre shots still got good bounces.”

Beginning his second round at the 10th hole, Gutschewski carded birdies at Nos. 10, 12, 15 and 16, offset by a bogey at No. 11 to turn in 3-under 32. The 42-year-old turned on the jets on his second nine, carding four birdies and an eagle at the par-3 fifth hole to close in 6-under 29.

“I hit a 4-iron in on my second shot on No. 3,” said Gutschewski. “It rolled up the hill and back down to about three feet for eagle. Even three-footers on poa greens are never stress-free, so it was good to make that one…I looked at my card when I got done and said ‘Oh my gosh, I made four twos.’ That’s pretty good. Ben Hogan said twos were like skipping a hole.”

Loar wrapped up his first round early on Thursday afternoon, but was forced to wait until 6:12 p.m. on Friday to tee off in his second round. Despite the extended gap between rounds, Loar fired five birdies in eight holes to join Gutschewski at 11-under going into Saturday.

Loar, a 41-year-old from Dallas, Texas, was the only player in the field to card two birdies during Thursday’s opening round (Nos. 3 and 15). His low round of the season was a 66 entering the week. He carded a 64 on Thursday and is 5-under through eight holes in his second round.

The Oklahoma State University alum enters the week 98th on the season-long Korn Ferry Tour points list. With a high finish, Loar could jump inside the top 75 on the points list, earning him entry into the three-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals. With a win, Loar would put himself squarely in contention to lock up a PGA TOUR card at next week’s season-ending WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz.

Gutschewski and Loar lead Scott Harrington and Zac Blair by two strokes. Both players are finished with their second round.

The second round will resume beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.