Martin Flores posted a second straight 6-under-par 66 during the morning wave and it stood up for the rest of the day, giving him a one-stroke lead over Matt Every, Gary Woodland and Brandon Hagy midway through the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario.
The 35-year-old Flores, whose only pro victory came in the 2016 Lincoln Land Charity Classic on the Web.com Tour, is at 12-under 132 after 36 holes.
“I was really pleased with my day,” said Flores, who sank a 19-foot putt to eagle the second hole for the second straight day. “Starting on the back, sprinkled some birdies and able to capitalize on 16 and 18, two par 5s.
“All I tried to do was just tried to flight the ball what I feel and sense, and just keep the ball down, because (the swirling wind) is coming from different directions, bouncing off the sides. So I just try to go with what I feel and I guess really just feel the shot.
“(I want to) keep attacking. It’s been soft so far. Try to keep doing the same things: Drive the ball in the fairway and give myself some looks.”
Woodland collected 10 birdies, including six in a row at one stage, in a 63 that was low round of the day, while first-round co-leaders Hagy, from Westlake Village and Cal, and Every both shot 68.
Vijay Singh of Fiji, oldest player in the field at 54 and the 2004 Canadian Open champion at Glen Abbey, posted a 64 and is two shots back in a tie for fifth with Kevin Chappell (69) of Fresno and UCLA, Ryan Ruffels (67), Charley Hoffman (66) of Poway and Harold Varner III (65).
Defending champion Jhonattan Vegas shot 69 and is another stroke behind in a tie for 10th with Sam Saunders and Morgan Hoffman, who both had 67s, and Chad Campbell, who came in at 69.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson totaled 69 and is four down in a tie for 14th that includes the leading Canadian, Graham DeLaet, who carded a second 68, while Open runner-up Matt Kuchar overcame the dizziness that bothered him a day earlier to shoot 67 and is in a tie for 46th that includes Bubba Watson, who stumbled to a 73.
