Marcos Montenegro
(USGA Photo)

Teeing off on No. 10 Montenegro immediately found himself trending in the wrong direction as he bogeyed the first two holes after playing flawless golf the day before. However, things began to turnaround with a 12th hole birdie and although he bogeyed No. 13 the tide had began to shift.

Montenegro rolled his second birdie on the 14th and then two more in succession to close out his opening side. When all was said and done Montenegro somehow managed to produce a 2-under 34 on the back nine and move to 9-under for the week.

On his second nine Montenegro played a steadier form of golf with a birdie and a bogey.

Two players --Fernando Cruz Valle and world No. 5 Joaquin Niemann-- are tied for second at 7-under.

Fernando Cruz Valle of Mexico moved into second place with a 5-under 67. The UL Lafayette senior started on the 10th and birdied four-times in his first nine holes. His lone bogey was on No. 1 but two more birdies followed.

Chile's Joaquin Niemann moved to the forefront of the leaderboard with the round of the day, a 6-under 66. Niemann, ranked fifth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, birdied seven-times and only bogeyed once on Friday. Niemann, a USF commit, closed strong with three birdies in the last four holes.

Finland's Santeri Lehesmaa is three behind and in fourth place at 6-under while American Scott Harvey and Chile's Paul Chaplet are tied for fifth at 5-under.

Harvey followed up his Thursday 2-under 70 with a second round 3-under 69. During the round Harvey carded seven birdies, including three straight to finish his day, and four bogeys.

American Stewart Hagestad is tied for 32nd at 3-over.