De Jonge gets lead at Xerox Classic

Rochester, NY (Sports Network) - Brendon De Jonge fired a six-under 64 on Friday to move into the lead at the midway point of the Xerox Classic at Irondequoit Country Club.

De Jonge is through 36 holes at nine-under 131 and is two ahead of overnight leader Bob May, who lost the 2000 PGA Championship in a playoff to Tiger Woods. May shot a one-under 69 to complete two rounds at seven-under 133.

Jeff Gallagher fired a five-under 65 Friday to move into a share of third place at six-under-par 134. He was joined there by Greg Chalmers (68), Greg Owen (68), David Hearn (66), David Schultz (69) and Garrett Osborn (66).

De Jonge began on the 10th tee Friday and parred his first five holes. He collected his first birdie at the par-three 15th when he rolled home a 12- footer.

He closed his opening side with back-to-back birdies, including a 30-footer at 17 and 15-footer at the 478-yard, closing hole.

De Jonge got his second nine going in style with a 12-foot birdie putt at one. Trouble loomed one hole later when he three-putted the par-three second green for a bogey.

De Jonge knocked his second to the back of the green at the par-five third and got up and down for birdie. Unfortunately, history repeated itself when De Jonge bogeyed the par-three fourth.

After trading birdies and bogeys, De Jonge settled down a bit. He hit his second to 15 feet to set up birdie at the fifth, then sank a 10-footer for birdie at the sixth.

De Jonge polished off his third birdie in a row from four feet at No. 7. He appeared to be in good shape for a closing birdie at the par-five ninth, but missed a six-footer.

Despite the missed birdie opportunity at the last, De Jonge is still atop the leaderboard in his bid for a first Nationwide Tour victory.

"If I keep playing solid golf, it'll take care of itself," said De Jonge, the 1999 Zimbabwe Amateur champion. "I didn't start out hitting it that good and then around the turn I got the feeling it might be a real good day." Former U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes is part of a three-way tie for ninth at five-under-par 135. He carded a three-under 67 in the second round and was joined at minus-five by Vance Veazey (68) and Kyle Reifers (68).

Five more players, including the tour's leading money winner Jarrod Lyle, are one stroke back at minus-four.

The cut line was one-over-par 141 with sixty-five players advancing to the weekend.

Among those who missed the cut were Rick Price (142), Jeff Klauk (143), David Mathis (143) and Darron Stiles (144).

08/15 20:15:36 ET