Unheralded Thompson Co-Leads Canadian Open

First time leader Thompson shoots second round 66 for share of weekend lead

VANCOUVER, July 23, 2011 (AFP) - Michael Thompson has his work cut out for him if he is to maintain his lofty perch atop the leaderboard at the $5.2 million Canadian Open.

Thompson, who has never held or shared a lead on the PGA Tour, fired a second round four-under 66 Friday and is tied for the lead with fellow American Chad Campbell on the unforgiving Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club course. They are both at four-under 136.

"This is my fifth tournament in a row and currently the best stretch I've played all year," Thompson said.

"I got off to a rough start kind of getting used to the PGA Tour and the lifestyle and the people at each event.

"Trying to find my own place. In the last few months, I've really begun to find my comfort zone, so to speak."

Campbell shot 67 and Thompson went one better later in the day, closing with a birdie on the tough 472-yard, par-four 18th.

Americans Paul Goydos (69) and Lee Janzen (68) had a share of the lead but both made bogey on the final hole to finish at three-under 137.

Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (67), Australian Geoff Ogilvy (68), Rickie Fowler (69), Jerry Kelly (67), Canadians David Hearn (68) and Adam Hadwin (66), and first-round leader Kris Blanks (71) were at two under.

The 26-year-old Thompson is playing some of the best golf of his career finishing fourth at the Travelers Championship and 12th at the John Deere Classic.

"I had a bad lie on No. 3," Thompson said. "I hit it over the green, and the ball was just nestled down in the rough. Looked like somebody had stepped on it and made bogey.

"If you miss it, then whatever. You did everything right in the process, and that's what's most important. The more you can stay in the process, the easier this game becomes. Hopefully, I can keep that going for the next two days."

Campbell rolled in five birdies and made a pair of bogeys on Friday.

He is also on a hot streak and tied for fifth at the British Open last week.

"A lot of golf left, but I'm definitely happy with the start," Campbell said.

Leading second-round scores here on Friday in the $5.2 million Canadian Open (USA unless noted):

136 - Chad Campbell 69-67, Michael Thompson 70-66

137 Paul Goydos 68-69, Lee Janzen 69-68

138 - Kris Blanks 67-71, Rickie Fowler 69-69, Adam Hadwin (CAN) 72-66, David Hearn (CAN) 70-68, Jerry Kelly 71-67, Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 70-68, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 71-67

139 - Ben Crane 69-70, Lucas Glover 69-70, Spencer Levin 73-66, Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 72-67, Scott McCarron 74-65, Aron Price (AUS) 68-71, Cameron Tringale 73-66

...

140 - Andres Romero (ARG) 72-68

141 - Brad Fritsch (CAN) Matt McQuillan (CAN) 68-73

142 - Ernie Els (RSA) 68-74, Greg Chalmers (AUS) 72-70, Bio Kim (KOR) 75-67

143 - Charlie Wi (KOR) 73-70, Luke Donald (GBR) 70-73, Peter Lonard (AUS) 73-70

144 - Nathan Green (AUS) 70-74, Fabian Gomez (ARG) 73-71, Alexandre Rocha (BRA) 76-68, Dustin Risdon (CAN) 75-69

Failed to make cut

145 - Nick Taylor (CAN) 71-74

146 - Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) 74-72, Darren Wallace 73-73, Chris Baryla (CAN) 74-72, Albin Choi (CAN) 74-72

147 - Rod Pampling (AUS) 75-72, Stuart Appleby (AUS) 76-71, Benjamin Alvarado (CHI) 76-71, Stephen Ames (CAN) 72-75

148 - Carl Pettersson (SWE) 74-74, Camilo Villegas (COL) 74-74

149 - Arjun Atwal (IND) 79-70, Hugo Leon (CHI) 75-74, Roger Sloan (CAN) 73-76, Paul Casey (GBR) 76-73, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 75-74

150 - Eugene Wong (CAN) 74-76, Matt Hill (CAN) 72-78

151 - Sunghoon Kang (KOR) 73-78

152 - Jose de Jesus Rodriguez (MEX) 76-76, Dave Bunker (CAN) 79-75

155 - Matt Jones (AUS) 78-77, Steven Bowditch (AUS) 77-78

156 - Mitch Evanecz (CAN) 79-77, Brian Hutton (CAN) 79-77

WD - Nick O'Hern (AUS) 75, Mike Weir (CAN) 74