And the temperature of 88 degrees was breaking records, making the storm-ridden country very jealous.
Dull, the 2018 champion, is just a shot clear of two Floridians and a New Englander. Blanton Farmer (Bradenton, Florida), Chip Brooke (Altamonte Springs, Florida) and Nick Maccario (Waltham, Mass.) all stand at 5-under 135.
Defending champion Logan Blondell, who set the tournament record at 10-under in winning the 2022 Gasparilla, will have his work cut out for him on Saturday. He stands at 1-over 141. But with a 62 out there already, who knows what can happen?
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
Joe Neuheisel, son of football coach and commentator Rick Neuheisel, shot an amazing 62 in the first round, but it can be hard to follow a round like that. After a second-round score of 75, he stands three shots back of the leader at 3-under 137. If he gets it going again, look out.
Andy Butler of Philadelphia had the most interesting scorecard we've ever seen over two rounds. The first day, he shot 80 with a 12 on the par-5 third hole. Today, he only chopped 8-shots off that hole by seeking pirate's revenge with a birdie. And if that wasn't enough, he aced the following hole on his way to a 2-under 68. Unfortunately, there was no adjusting that 12, and he missed the 36-hole cut by three.
Jeff Knox and Mike Finster lead the senior division at 1-over 141. Knox, of Augusta, Georgia, is known for playing several times as a marker in The Masters -- sometimes besting the score of his professional playing partner. Finster, of St. Petersburg has a great track record playing close to home -- in January he captured the Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic at Tampa Palms.
The 54-hole cut, by the way, fell at 5-over 145.
