Americans Garrick, Saunders share second-round lead at Canadian Amateur

WINNIPEG, Canada (August 5, 2014) — First-round co-leader Jonathan Garrick was on the course in the early wave Tuesday at the Canadian Amateur, carding a 68 to move to eight-under par in Winnipeg. In the afternoon wave, University of New Mexico senior Sam Saunders shot his second consecutive round of 67 to tie Garrick, and the two will share a two-stroke advantage heading into Wednesday's third round. Other first-round co-leader Brian Bullington, who was a senior last season at the University of Iowa, shot a one-over par 71 on Tuesday and fell back into a tie for sixth place. Garrick, a junior at the University of California-Los Angeles, made an eagle and a double bogey on his first nine, then shot two-under on his final nine. In a tie for third place is Canada's top-ranked amateur player Corey Conners. The Ontario native and former Kent State University golfer was last year's runner-up, as well as a semi-finalist at the 2013 U.S. Men’s Amateur. Two other Canadian players are tied with Conners at six-under, including Blair Hamilton of Ontario and Bret Thompson of Winnipeg. Some of the top male golfers from across the world, including Australia, Colombia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Canada, and the United States, will compete at the Canadian Amateur which began Monday. Two courses, Elmhurst Golf and Country Club and Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba are hosting the event. Stakes are high as the winner will receive exemptions into both the PGA TOUR's RBC Canadian Open in 2015 at Glen Abbey Golf Club, as well as the 2014 U.S. Amateur Championship. And, if applicable, the winner would be eligible to earn exemptions into the U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur and the USGA Senior Amateur Championship.