WALLA WALLA - Professional Brandon Kearney of Bend Golf and Country Club in Bend, Ore., and amateur Dan Whitaker of Ellensburg Golf and Country Club in Ellensburg lead after the second round of the Northwest Open Invitational at Wine Valley Golf Club Tuesday.
They stand at 10-under par 134 after the first two rounds, two strokes ahead of amateur Michael Haack of Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent, Wash., and three ahead of PGA professional Jeff Bender of Golf Universe in Kennewick and Rob Gibbons of Arrowhead Golf Course in Molalla, Ore.
The top 70 golfers advanced to today's final round. All golfers under or tied at 150 qualified for the final.
Kearney and Whitaker both carded first-rounds of 68 Monday, and took two strokes off to take the two-stroke lead over Haack into today's final round.
Richland's Jason Aichele, the leader after the opening round Monday, followed his first-round 66 with a 72 Tuesday to drop into a tie for sixth. Aichele is tied with Gordon Corder of Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane and Brian Thornton of Meridian Valley in Kent, Wash.
Elijah Perkins, an assistant pro at Wine Valley, is in an eight-player group which includes Brady Sharp, an assistant pro at the Walla Walla Country Club, tied for 20th at 143.
Walla Walla amateur Jim Pliska, who plays his golf at Wine Valley, is tied for 46th at 147.
And Walla Walla's Jeff Neher, an amateur out of Veterans Memorial Golf Course, took six strokes off Monday's 77 to card a 71 Tuesday to sit in a seven-way tie for 53rd at 148.
Local amateur Scott Larsen and Wine Valley head golf pro John Thorsnes just missed the cut for today's final round. Larsen followed his first-round 74 with a 77 to sit at 151. Thorsnes improved by five strokes over his opening 78 to shoot 73 Tuesday and join Larsen and join four others at 151.
Northwest Open leaders
Dan Whitaker (a), Ellensburg 68-66-134
Brandon Kearney, Bend, Ore. 68-66-134
Michael Haack (a), Kent, Wash. 68-68-136
Jeff Bender, Kennewick 71-66-137
Rob Gibbons, Molalla, Ore. 68-69-137
Gordon Corder, Spokane 72-66-138
Jason Aichele, Richland 66-72-138
Brian Thornton, Kent, Wash. 70-68-138
Rob Clark, Wenatchee 70-69-139
Cameron Whittle (a), ML 70-70-140
Bob Rannow, Florence, Ore. 71-70-141
Casey McCoy, The Dalles 73-68-141
Josh Immordino, Kent 72-69-141
Brent Murray, Lake Oswego 71-70-141
Todd O'Neal, Washo.l, Wash. 73-69-142
Scott Krieger, Seattle 70-72-142
Jerry Johnson, Olympia 73-69-142
Derek Berg (a), Bellevue 74-68-142
Ryan Malby, Kalispell, Mont. 73-69-142
Jim Dunlap (a), Portland 72-71-143
Elijah Perkins, Walla Walla 69-74-143
Tyler Wong, Bellingham 72-71-143
Brady Sharp, Walla Walla 73-70-143
Corey Prugh, Spokane 74-69-143
Adam Syverson, Spokane 73-70-143
Michael Kloenne (a), Portand 70-73-143
Erik Hanson (a), Seattle 71-72-143
Kyle Miller, Bellevue 75-69-144
Lon Hinkle, Big Fork, Mont. 70-74-144
Mike O'Keefe (a), Snoq., Wash. 69-75-144
Steve Stull, Kennewick 70-74-144
Mark Gardner, Spokane 69-75-144
Louie Runge, Willapa Bay 72-73-145
Justin Bos, Sunnyside 72-73-145
Greg Smith, Willow Lake 71-74-145
Joey Hord (a), Portland 76-69-145
Darek Franklin, Salem, Ore. 71-74-145
Ryan Benzel, Marysville 69-76-145
Sean Arey, Corvallis 76-69-145
Brian Nosler, Vancouver, Wash. 76-69-145
Chris Griffin, Tacoma 69-76-145
Taylor Ferris, Tacoma 77-68-145
Chris Bae (a), Snoq., Wash. 74-72-146
Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash. 73-73-146
Barry Walters, Yakima 74-72-146
David Bobillot, M.V., Wash. 74-73-147
Keith Crimp (a), Ellensburg 73-74-147
Dan Ostrin, Bend, Ore. 73-74-147
Scott Adams (a), Spokane 74-73-147
Paul Pavlos (a), Snoh., Wash. 76-71-147
Jesse Sitterud (a), Snoq., Wash. 74-73-147
Jim Pliska (a), Walla Walla 73-74-147
Bruce Stewart, Molalla, Ore. 75-73-148
Brent Wolf, Coeur d' Alene 74-74-148
Jeff Neher (a), Walla Walla 77-71-148
Mike Toll, Renton, Wash. 72-76-148
Steve Prugh, Spokane 78-70-148
Matt Epstein (a), Everett 74-74-148
Jeff Neeley (a), Mukilteo, Wash. 75-73-148
Christopher Smith, Spokane 76-73-149
Steve Bowen, DSG 75-74-149
Mike Early, Port Townsend 77-72-149
Tim McElhinny, Spokane 76-73-149
Josh Gold, Blanchard, Idaho 74-75-149
Mike Hegarty, Mission, Ore. 71-78-149
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