Cristobal Del Solar of Chile tied Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes at the top of the leaderboard through two rounds of the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic on Friday in South Carolina.
Hughes was the first-round leader thanks to a 63 and followed that with a 69 to move to 10-under-par 132. Del Solar posted a 67 to join him there, one shot ahead of Harry Higgs (66), Davis Shore (66), Nick Watney (67), Danny Walker (67) and Will Chandler (69).
Hughes finished the day at Dunes Golf and Beach Club with two bogeys and four birdies on his card.
“I think the conditions kind of dictated that as well,” Hughes said. “When we started out, our first nine holes certainly and some of the back nine holes as well. I mean, (the wind) was blowing pretty good out there. I thought it was playing quite tricky.
“Yeah, it just wasn’t the same day. I didn’t feel like I was swinging the same way I did yesterday. I felt like I was not quite on. Still a nice job of managing my game, staying patient.”
While Hughes has two previous wins on the PGA Tour, Del Solar’s claim to fame was shooting a round of 57 on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024. The tour rookie had six birdies to just two bogeys Friday, including a 5-footer on his third-to-last hole, the seventh.
“It’s been really close multiple weeks in the past,” Del Solar said. “It’s just that extra step that needs to happen. That extra step of consistency and the swing or other parts, but definitely feels it’s there. I definitely feel I have the game. It’s just everything needs to match up together. Happy to see it matching up all together.”
Of note in the 9-under group is Watney, the PGA Tour veteran who hasn’t won since 2012. He entered the week No. 1,006 in the world rankings and only got into the field as an alternate when Webb Simpson withdrew.
“I just wanted to come and continue to improve,” Watney said. “I’m trying not to think about what finish would mean what. I’m aware of it, I have to say. Top 10 would be maybe another start (on the tour) or et cetera, et cetera, but I’m just trying to really enjoy myself and soak in my opportunity.”
–Field Level Media
