Brandon Wu grabs 36 hole Porter Cup lead

LEWISTON, New York (July 20, 2017) -- A four-hour rain delay didn’t affect Brandon Wu or Cristian DiMarco on day two of The Porter Cup. The pair was patient, waited out the weather, and then poured in a barrage of birdies once Mother Nature let them play. Around 11:17 a.m. EST play was suspended when some nasty clouds rolled in. Play didn’t resume at Niagara Falls Country Club until 3:30 p.m. EST with the final groups putting into the early evening. Once the second round was in the books, there was a logjam at the top. Firing a 4-under 66, to follow an opening round 68, Brandon Wu took the lead. Nipping at his heels – one shot back at -5 are: DiMarco, and first-round co-leaders: Christopher Petefish and Travis Smyth. Wu, the Stanford golfer from Scarsdale, New York, had five birdies and a lone bogey. Earlier this year he posted a 63 at Yocha Deche in Northern California at U.S. Open local qualifying. This could be his tournament to win. DiMarco, from Winter Park, FL. shot 4-under on the back side, to go with a 1-under on the opening nine. His 65 (5-under) was not only the low round of the day, but also the low round of the tournament so far. The Floridians’ birdie barrage vaulted him nine spots up the leaderboard. DiMarco's father, Chris is a three-time winner on the PGA Tour and a three-time runner-up in major championships. And it was like father/like son earlier this month in Florida, as Cristian won the Florida Amateur title. After two rounds, Luke Moser of Waterloo, Ont., is the top Canadian; Moser followed an even-par opening round with a -1 under on day two — leaving him T7 with Texan Wes Artac. After a tidy 66 (-4) in the opening round, which left him tied atop the leaderboard, defending champion Harrison Endycott retreated with a 71 (+1) in round 2. The Australian is still in a good position heading to moving day, just three shots back. A highlight of the second round saw Daniel Hudson, of Western Springs, Ill., notch an ace on the Par 3 fourth hole using a 6-iron from 186 yards. After an even par opening round, Hudson finished 1-over on Thursday; he heads into round three T13 Canadian Garrett Rank (who has won the past three Canadian Mid-Amateur Championships and is an NHL referee) shot one over in round two — leaving him T13 with Hudson and Argentinean Jaime Lopez Rivarola at 1-over for the tournament.