Hank Kuehne Takes One Shot Lead into Weekend of Quebec Open
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:42:07
The 2002 Texas Challenge champion is at 9-under 135 through 36 holes, one shot in front of Aaron Barber of Minneapolis, MN and Australia's David McKenzie. Four others, including Canadians Carl Desjardins, Rob McMillan and Doug McGuigan, are at 7-under 137.
The tournament, being held at Le Versant GC in suburban Montreal, is a co-sanctioned event that features the top players from the Canadian and Quebec PGA Tours. A total of 66 players shot 1-under or better to make the cut.
Despite having a crack at three par-5's on the front nine, Kuehne, one of the longest hitters in the world, could only manage an even-par 36 at the turn. But he caught fire on the back side, firing a sizzling 5-under 31 with five birdies over a seven-hole span.
"Starting out, I didn't strike it well, but my chipping was on all day and I was able to get up and down when I missed greens," said the 1998 U.S. Amateur champion. "I know a lot of people come out here to see me hit driver, but they watch me play and realize there is a lot more to my game. No matter how long I hit it, the bottom line is to get the ball in the hole. I take a lot of pride in my entire game."
After some early-season success, Kuehne admittedly was having a difficult time finding his groove at Tour stops in Vancouver and Victoria earlier this summer before taking some time off the Canadian Tour to play in a trio of PGA Tour events. At the B.C. Open in Endicott, NY last month, Kuehne struggled to an opening round 76 before bouncing back with a 63 the next day. Since then, his game has gradually returned to form, and he is hoping to notch his second Canadian Tour win of 2002 this weekend in Terrebonne. And he knows how important Saturday and Sunday will be- Kuehne currently sits second behind Jeff Quinney on the money list, putting himself in position for a little year-end bonus. The top three off the Order of Merit, plus the next two Canadians, are guaranteed a spot into the Air Canada Championship and Bell Canadian Open, while the top two are exempted into the second stage of PGA Tour Qualifying.
"Those PGA events were a measuring stick, and a lot of the guys were very supportive of me," added Kuehne. "It boosts you confidence playing with them. But right now, my focus is to the win the Order of Merit here. Never mind finishing in the top two- anyone in my position that tells you they are playing for second is lying."
Barber, the defending Order of Merit winner, knows he will need a win here to have any chance of moving into the top three.
"I really didn't know what Hank was at until I finished," said Barber, a two-time winner last year. "But it wouldn't have mattered anyway. I am trying to focus on what I need to do to get a win this week. I was grinding out there, and I am a lot happier with the 70 today than the 66 (Thursday). I had to really work for this one, and I am looking forward to a shootout this weekend."
Scores Friday after the second round of the Canadian Tour's $200,000 TELUS Quebec Open being played at the 7103-yard, par-72 Le Versant GC (A-denotes amateur):
1 Kuehne, Hank Palm Beach, FL 68-67_135 -9
2 Barber, Aaron Minneapolis, MN 66-70_136 -8
2 McKenzie, David Australia 69-67_136 -8
4 Desjardins, Carl Vaudreuil, QC 71-66_137 -7
4 Duke, Ken Boca Raton, FL 70-67_137 -7
4 McGuigan, Doug Langley, BC 66-71_137 -7
4 McMillan, Rob Winnipeg, MB 68-69_137 -7
8 Bouchard, Remi Candiac, QC 70-68_138 -6
8 Christensen, Dave Elk River, MN 68-70_138 -6
8 Harris, Michael Troy, MI 70-68_138 -6
8 Parker, Perry Dana Point, CA 66-72_138 -6
8 Steel, Iain Malaysia 70-68_138 -6
8 Unk, Brian Cuyahoga Falls, OH 71-67_138 -6
14 Butcher, Rodney Tampa, FL 72-67_139 -5
14 Grob, Mike Billings, MT 69-70_139 -5
14 Martin, Wes Calgary, AB 70-69_139 -5
17 Bingham, Brett Red Deer, AB 69-71_140 -4
17 Bohn, Jason Atlanta, GA 70-70_140 -4
17 Devenport, Paul New Zealand 71-69_140 -4
17 Fritsch, Brad Manotick, ON 69-71_140 -4
17 Gutschewski, Scott Omaha, NE 69-71_140 -4
17 Learmonth, Chris Glen Robertson, ON 69-71_140 -4
17 Massey, Rich Harrington Park, NJ 69-71_140 -4
17 Nelson, Birk Portland, OR 70-70_140 -4
17 Pettitt, Ben Coral Springs, FL 72-68_140 -4
17 Quinney, Jeff Scottsdale, AZ 71-69_140 -4
17 Scott, Drew Pinehurst, NC 68-72_140 -4
17 Symons, Drew Woodstock, ON 70-70_140 -4
17 Wall, Chris Dallas, TX 70-70_140 -4
17 Warner, Jarrod Phoenix, AZ 70-70_140 -4
31 Conrad, Bob Seattle, WA 72-69_141 -3
31 Correa, Larry San Diego, CA 70-71_141 -3
31 Daniel, Matt Richmond, BC 69-72_141 -3
31 Lee, Eddy Corona, CA 70-71_141 -3
31 Parry, Bryn North Vancouver, BC 69-72_141 -3
31 Scott, Steve Royal Palm Beach, FL 73-68_141 -3
37 Doohan, Todd Sarnia, ON 73-69_142 -2
37 Faught, David South Africa 68-74_142 -2
37 Howser, David Cordova, TN 75-67_142 -2
37 Kalinowski, Bobby Scottsdale, AZ 73-69_142 -2
37 Locker, Chris Columbia, SC 74-68_142 -2
37 Mathis, David Raleigh, NC 72-70_142 -2
37 McCann, Brian Mississauga, ON 71-71_142 -2
37 Petty, Mayson Charlotte, NC 73-69_142 -2
37 Spallone, Sal Vero Beach, FL 72-70_142 -2
37 Tiziani, Mario Chanhassen, MN 73-69_142 -2
37 Veress, Zoltan Kitchener, ON 70-72_142 -2
37 Webb, Brennan Bracebridge, ON 72-70_142 -2
49 Barnes, Andrew Phoenix, AZ 72-71_143 -1
49 Cuthill, Gregg Cowansville, QC 72-71_143 -1
49 Driscoll, James Brookline, MA 72-71_143 -1
49 Enloe, Jason Dallas, TX 71-72_143 -1
49 Flugstad, Brian Seattle, WA 70-73_143 -1
49 Gillespie, Derek Oshawa, ON 71-72_143 -1
49 Griff, Darren Salt Spring Island, BC 71-72_143 -1
49 Hearn, David Brantford, ON 74-69_143 -1
49 Johnson, Andy Orlando, FL 73-70_143 -1
49 Johnson, Rob Terre Haute, IN 71-72_143 -1
49 Kirk, Michael South Africa 72-71_143 -1
49 Mackenzie, Will Greenville, NC 71-72_143 -1
49 Pleis, Steve Parrish, FL 71-72_143 -1
49 Scaletta, Paul Richmond, VA 71-72_143 -1
49 Short, Adam Vineland, ON 71-72_143 -1
49 Turpen, Tim West Palm Beach, FL 74-69_143 -1
49 Woodard, Stephen Charlotte, NC 73-70_143 -1
49 Woodcock, Mike Chatam, ON 72-71_143 -1
The following players missed the cut:
67 Belbin, Chad Kamloops, BC 72-72_144 Even
67 Belbin, Mike Sherwood Park, AB 73-71_144 Even
67 Blais, Jerome Sherbrooke, QC 74-70_144 Even
67 Chartrand, Dan Victoria, BC 74-70_144 Even
67 Chubb, Matthew Toronto, ON 70-74_144 Even
67 Dillon, Ryan Aiken, SC 71-73_144 Even
67 Drewery, Jonn Cambridge, ON 70-74_144 Even
67 Henderson, Michael Orlando, FL 71-73_144 Even
67 Kovacs, Kyle Sherman Oaks, CA 74-70_144 Even
67 Marseilles, Craig Maple, ON 73-71_144 Even
67 Masson, Grant Dallas, TX 72-72_144 Even
67 Matthew, Craig Ile Bizard, QC 74-70_144 Even
67 Matyczuk, Davidson Thunder Bay, ON 74-70_144 Even
67 Mercier, �ric Ste-Th�r�se, QC 74-70_144 Even
81 Bock, Duane Morganton, NC 74-71_145 1
81 Ford, Scott Lake Worth, FL 76-69_145 1
81 Heffernan, Wes Calgary, AB 72-73_145 1
81 Rocha, Alex Brazil 76-69_145 1
81 Smith, Tony Clovis, CA 72-73_145 1
81 Sutterfield, Brad St. George, UT 72-73_145 1
87 Ayers, Dirk Sarasota, FL 75-71_146 2
87 Chinner, Ashley Toronto, ON 70-76_146 2
87 Johnson, Mark Helendale, CA 71-75_146 2
87 Leduc, Jean Blainville, QC 75-71_146 2
87 Levesque, Dave Quebec City, QC 74-72_146 2
87 Lippert, Eric Monterey, CA 73-73_146 2
87 Paiement, Jacques Qu�bec, QC 72-74_146 2
87 Voska, Kyle Orlando, FL 73-73_146 2
87 Welder, Jamie Calgary, AB 73-73_146 2
87 Wollmann, Chris Strongsville, OH 72-74_146 2
87 Wright, Bryan Stanberry, MO 74-72_146 2
98 Greenwood, Chris Valdese, NC 73-74_147 3
98 Harrison, Roger Calgary, AB 72-75_147 3
98 Payne, Brian Chicago, IL 72-75_147 3
98 Quiroz, Alex Mexico 71-76_147 3
98 Valentin, Jerome France 72-75_147 3
98 Wood, Jeff Fortuna, CA 72-75_147 3
104 Archambault, Jean-Philippe Ste-Rose, QC 77-71_148 4
104 Brunson, Daniel Greenville, SC 74-74_148 4
104 Fukushima, Kent Grande Prairie, AB 78-70_148 4
104 Hamilton, Robert Carmichael, CA 76-72_148 4
104 Kral, Scotty Victoria, BC 72-76_148 4
104 Lamarre, Jean-Louis St.-Luc, QC 76-72_148 4
104 Maltais, Eric Rosem�re, QC 78-70_148 4
104 Trudeau, Julien (A) Verdun, QC 80-68_148 4
112 Girouard, Marc Ste-Anne-des-Lacs, QC 75-74_149 5
112 Greville, Jeremy Hamilton, ON 75-74_149 5
112 Jonas, Philip Vancouver, BC 78-71_149 5
112 Leblanc, Jean-Claude Blainville, QC 74-75_149 5
112 Roy, Denis Charlesbourg, QC 78-71_149 5
112 Tremblay, Claude Repentigny, QC 74-75_149 5
118 Corral, Jorge Mexico 77-73_150 6
118 DeCorso, Bryan Guelph, ON 75-75_150 6
118 Hins, Michel Ste-Sophie, QC 75-75_150 6
121 Doig, Ian Newmarket, ON 77-74_151 7
121 LaBelle, Doug Mt. Pleasant, MI 79-72_151 7
121 Maunder, Eddie Whitby, ON 77-74_151 7
121 Mijovic, Danny Toronto, ON 80-71_151 7
121 Saltus, Bryan Costa Mesa, CA 77-74_151 7
121 Thivierge, Serge St-Eustache, QC. 78-73_151 7
127 Bousquet, Pete Laval, QC 77-75_152 8
127 Brosseau, Steven Manoir des Sables, QC 78-74_152 8
127 Chatelain, Jean Mont-Tremblant, QC 76-76_152 8
127 Fisher, Jason Bakersfield, CA 76-76_152 8
127 Kelly, Dave St-Nicholas, QC 74-78_152 8
127 Senecal, Kevin St-Sauveur, QC 77-75_152 8
133 Lepage, Darryl Kanata, ON 79-74_153 9
133 Morin, Jason St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC 77-76_153 9
135 Anderson, Stuart Ft. McMurray, AB 77-77_154 10
135 Bergeron, Martin East Angus, QC 80-74_154 10
135 MacDonald, Jeff Dollards-des-Ormeaux, QC 73-81_154 10
135 Rochefort, Luc Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC 77-77_154 10
135 Talbot, Stephane Montreal, QC 78-76_154 10
140 De Bellefeuille, Luc Ile Perrot, QC 74-81_155 11
140 Maltais, Patrick St-Eustache, QC 79-76_155 11
140 Scott, Jimmy Hamilton, ON 81-74_155 11
143 Boyer, Michel St-Eustache, QC 80-76_156 12
143 Comeau, Daniel Boisbriand, QC 79-77_156 12
143 Dagenais, Michel Aylmer, QC 81-75_156 12
143 Demers, Patrick Laval, QC 80-76_156 12
143 Laporte, Eric Joliette, QC 78-78_156 12
143 Lessard, Fr�d�ric Ste-Marie Beauce, QC 78-78_156 12
143 Nols, Andre Jonqui�re, QC 77-79_156 12
150 Brouillette, Martin Le Blainvillier, QC 78-79_157 13
150 Deschenes, Steve Les C�dres, QC 79-78_157 13
150 Fortaich, Patrick Terrebonne, QC 80-77_157 13
150 Lasalle, Yannick Alma, QC 77-80_157 13
150 McNeely, Dan Williamstown, ON 80-77_157 13
155 Levasseur, S�bastien Pointe-du-Lac, QC 81-77_158 14
156 Falardeau, Jocelyn Le Gardeur, QC 87-72_159 15
156 Lemieux, Benoit Boucherville, QC 79-80_159 15
156 Morin, Benoit St-Constant, QC 79-80_159 15
159 Marchildon, Charles Ste-Th�r�se, QC 85-75_160 16
160 Gariepy, Philippe Varennes, QC 78-83_161 17
160 Leslie, Scott Montr�al, QC 81-80_161 17
162 Miller, Russell Laval, QC 84-78_162 18
163 Bergeron, Pierre-Luc Ste-Foy, QC 85-80_165 21
164 Hurtubise, Marc Chambly, QC 81-85_166 22
165 Langevin, Daniel Vercheres, QC 85-82_167 23
166 Allen, Claude Terrebonne, QC 90-78_168 24
167 Beaupr�, Tommy Chambly, QC 85-85_170 26"
