Bogey-free Tomasulo builds two-shot edge at Albertsons Boise Open

Peter Tomasulo fired an 8-under 63 Friday and moved into the lead at the halfway point of the Albertsons Boise Open on the Nationwide Tour. Tomasulo, winner of the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic in July, matched the tournament’s 36-hole record with his 14-under 128 total and leads by two over Michael Putnam, winner of last week’s Utah Championship. First-round leader Cliff Kresge (68) is three shots back while Hunter Haas (64) and Utah’s Daniel Summerhays (65) share fourth place, four behind the leader. “I just felt like I was going to make all my putts,” said Tomasulo, who ran off an eagle and four consecutive birdies starting on his second hole of the day. “The start, that was fun. Stuff like that is fun to do.” Tomasulo’s 3-iron, second shot on the par-5 second hole hit the pin and stopped 10 feet from the cup. He rolled in the eagle putt and was off and running. The 28-year-old Californian then added four straight birdies, the last two coming from 17 and 25 feet. He needed only 10 putts to complete a 6-under 30 on the front nine. He continued his hot streak on the back nine, finishing with no bogeys and 23 total putts. He is the only player in the field without a bogey after two days at the Hillcrest Country Club. “It doesn’t happen that often, a few times a year, and you want to take advantage of it when it does,” he said. “It’s not very often that you’re looking at 25-footers and feel like you can make them. I felt like that today. I saw the lines well, I had the speed. The speed was really good today. The ball just kept rolling where I was trying to hit ‘em.” It seemed like much of the field had the same vibe going as Tomasulo -- the 36-hole cut came at a record 5-under 137. “On this course, there are a lot birdie chances,” said the leader. “When there is no wind and a lot of people are going to be hitting on the green in good position, it’s going to turn into a putting contest.” Putnam has no objection to that happening this week. The 6-foot-4 Tacoma native is riding high after last week’s win near Salt Lake City thanks to his work on the greens. “It’s all confidence,” he said following a bogey-free 64. “You get confident with the putter and it seems like you can almost make everything. You don’t second-guess your reads, you don’t second-guess your grip, your stance, posture, nothing -- you just get up there and hit it and that’s what’s going on right now.” Putnam calls this stretch the best he’s ever putted in his career, pro or amateur. “I’ve never really had my putter hot in my entire life,” he said. “The tournaments that I played well on the PGA Tour and out here three or four years ago were because I hit the ball to death. I hit it to three feet and just made those for birdie. It’s pretty exciting to see some putts go in for more than one round in a row.” Second-Round Notes: Peter Tomasulo’s 128 score tied the tournament’s 36-hole record set by Kevin Stadler in 2006 and tied by Jim McGovern in 2007 and Blake Adams in 2009. Tomasulo’s 128 score also matches the lowest 36-hole score in tournament history. … A total of 63 players made the he 36-hole cut, which came at a tournament-record 5-under 137. The previous record of 4 under came in 2007. … Tomasulo’s 6-under eagle-birdie streak matched the best in tournament history. Tomasulo went E-B-B-B-B starting at No. 2. His streak equaled that of Justin Bolli in the first round in 2004. Bradley Iles had three eagles on par 5s. Iles started his round on the back nine and rolled in a 30-foot putt at No. 16. He then added back-to-back eagles with a 12-footer at No. 2 and an 8-footer at No. 3. Iles becomes the 16th player in the Nationwide Tour’s 21-year history to record three eagles in a single round and the first since Dustin Risdon did it at the 2009 Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic. Iles is also the first player to register three eagles in a single round in the Albertsons Boise Open, which began in 1990. Iles shot a 64 and is at 8-under 134. … Iles’ back-to-back eagles at Nos. 2 and 3 mark the second straight day a player has done that. Brady Schnell had consecutive eagles on Thursday. Four players in tournament history have made back-to-back eagles and all four did on Nos. 2 and 3. Roger Tambellini aced the 116-yard 17th hole with a pitching wedge. … James Hahn had a hole-in-one at the 201-yard eighth hole. Hahn used a 7-iron for the ace, the third of his career but the first in competition. It’s also the first time he’s actually seen the ball go in the hole. … Cliff Kresge reeled off five consecutive birdies, starting at No. 18. The tournament record is six in a row, set by Michael Muehr in the third round in 1999. … Among the top players on the money list missing the cut this week were: No. 1 Chris Kirk, No. 8 Tag Ridings, No. 13 Jim Herman, No. 14 Kevin Kisner and No. 16 Chris Nallen, who saw his consecutive cut streak end at nine in a row. … Scott Gutschewski withdrew after nine holes today due to an injury. Saturday’s telecast on The Golf Channel will feature an unique approach to the game. The broadcast runs from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. ET and will essentially be “announcer free.” Commentary will be limited with the emphasis placed on more natural sound from the players, interaction with the audience via social media and enhanced graphics and other innovations. In addition, former Nationwide Tour players Stewart Cink, Ryan Palmer and Zach Johnson will call in during the telecast to talk about their Tour experiences, the event in Boise, their 2010 seasons, the FedExCup and the upcoming Ryder Cup.