The second round of the Wyndham Championship is underway from Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, NC as the six Canadians in the field look to make the cut in the regular-season finale.
This week is the last chance for players to get inside the top 70 on the season-long points list and book their spot in the playoff opener at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Canadians Taylor Pendrith, A.J. Ewart, Mackenzie Hughes, Ben Silverman, and Adam Svensson are all on the outside looking in on the playoff picture, but can earn themselves a tee time next week in Memphis alongside Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Corey Conners, and Nick Taylor with good showings at the Wyndham.
Pendrith, 85th on the points list, fired a four-under 66 in the opening round to stay within striking distance of the leaders. He will need to finish in a three-way tie for fourth to earn a playoff berth.
The Richmond Hill, Ont. native has already retained his playing privileges for next year after locking up his spot in the top 100, but the same cannot be said for Ewart, Hughes, Silverman, and Svensson.
Ewart is right on the bubble at No. 100, and is currently at 2-under par for the week after shooting a clean back-nine to get to 2-under 68 on Friday.
The cut line is tracking to get to 3-under, meaning the Coquitlam, B.C. native will need some help if he is to have any chance at the solo third finish he needs to qualify for the postseason.
Hughes occupies 120th on the FedEx Cup standings, and would need to to earn his best finish of the year, a solo second, for a playoff berth.
Hailing from Dundas, Ont., Hughes shot a 67 in his second round to get to five-under for the week, moving well inside the cut line to give himself a chance for a weekend run.
Both Silverman (136) and Svensson (188) require a win this week to earn a spot in the first playoff event.
Silverman, of Thornhill, Ont., and Svensson, of Surrey, B.C., got to 1-under in the opening round and will need another good day to make the halfway cut.
Abbotsford, B.C’s Taylor is at 3-under for the tournament after a second-round 68, and will see the weekend as he gears up for the St. Jude next week.
Canadians at the Wyndham Championship
Leader: Ben James (-11)
Projected cut: 3-under
| Pos. | Player | Total | THRU | R2 | Finish needed for playoff berth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T26 | Mackenzie Hughes | -5 | F* | -3 (67) | Solo 2nd |
| T50 | Nick Taylor | -3 | F | -2 (68) | Clinched |
| T68 | Taylor Pendrith | -2 | 4 | +2 | 3-Way T4 |
| T83 | A.J. Ewart | -1 | F* | -2 (68) | Solo 3rd |
| T83 | Ben Silverman | -1 | 1:38 p.m. ET* | - | WIN |
| T107 | Adam Svensson | +1 | 5* | +2 | WIN |
*denotes back-nine start
