Several players, including Rickie Fowler, Akshay Bhatia and Kevin Roy, and their caddies are wearing black ribbons on their hats to honor equipment rep Cody Hale’s wife, Kayla, who died last week from cancer.
“Cody’s part of the family out here, and when you’re part of the family, their family’s part of the family, too,” Fowler said. “Can’t really imagine what they’re all going through. … Hopefully we’ll be able to see him back out here soon.”
North Oaks’ Frankie Capan III had a wrist injury and withdrew after shooting the highest round of the day, a 7-over 78. After starting his round with eight consecutive pars on the back nine, over his final 10 holes he shot four bogeys and a quadruple-bogey 8 on the second hole. His only birdie came on the par-5 sixth hole.
Two-time Minnesota State Amateur champion Tom Hoge, who missed the cut at the British Open, shot 74 and is tied for 145th, a stroke better than former Gophers golfer Erik van Rooyen.
Spring Lake Park graduate Troy Merritt shot 68 and Minnetonka graduate Carson Herron shot 72.
Staff writers Brian Stensaas and Jerry Zgoda contributed to this notebook.
