Mackenzie claims lead, Schnell shoots 59 in Alberta

Calgary, AB (SportsNetwork.com) – Brock Mackenzie carded a 9-under 63 on Friday to claim a 1-stroke lead after two rounds of the ATB Financial Classic.

Mackenzie finished 36 holes at Sirocco Golf Club at 16-under-par 128. He is seeking his second career win on the PGA Tour Canada.

Stephen Carney (65) is alone in second place at 15-under.

The story of the day, however, goes to Brady Schnell, who holed out his final hole from 122 yards for an eagle to shoot a 59 and move into a share for third place with Christopher Ross (62) at 14-under.

Schnell started on the back nine and raced out of the gate with five birdies over his first six holes.

After a pair of pars he converted birdies at the 18th, first, third and fifth to move to 10-under. Back-to-back birdies at the seventh and eighth brought him to the par-4 ninth, where he holed out his second shot from 122 yards for an eagle to card the second 59 in tour history.

“I guess you’re always trying to hole it, but you don’t expect it to happen for a 59,” Schnell said about his final shot. “I was just trying to make another birdie and get in and shoot 60 and just move up the leaderboard. I can’t believe how it happened. That was just crazy.”

Mackenzie parred his first three holes before rolling in consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th. He converted another pair of birdies at the 18th and first to move to 11-under.

He stayed hot with gains at the third and fifth before closing his bogey-free round with three straight gains from the seventh to claim the lead at minus-16.

Carney countered a lone bogey with eight birdies, including four straight from the 14th, to end a shot off the pace.

NOTES: Jason Bohn carded a 58 in the final round of the 2001 Bayer Championship … Schnell is the first professional golfer to card a 59 this year. Three players accomplished the feat in 2013, Will Wilcox and Russell Knox on the Web.com Tour, and Jim Furyk on the PGA Tour … Mackenzie’s lone win on tour came at the 2010 Times Colonist Open.

Categorized in: PGA