Players on a roll at PGA qualifying in Dayton

DAYTON -- It's always nice to play in a group of golfers that are shooting the ball well.

Especially in the second round of the first stage of PGA qualifying at Dayton Valley Country Club when scores traditionally rise.

While most players saw their scores rise, John Sosa and his group had an excellent day. For Sosa, it was nice to receive a little help from his friends.

Sosa shot the low score of the day, a 7-under 65 on Wednesday. He rebounded from a first round 73 to put him at 6-under 138 at the halfway point.

Sosa trails Washoe Valley's Steve Sear, Brian Kortan of Alburquerque, N.M. and Mike Louden of Henderson, who are all at 10-under 134 after two rounds. After tying the course record with a 63 on Tuesday, Sear settled for a 71 on Wednesday.

Louden shot a 66 and Kortan fired a 68 on Wednesday. Other golfers of note include Billy Harvey of Las Vegas and four-time Georgia Tech All-American Bryce Molder, who both have shot 70-69 through the first two rounds to stand at 5-under 139.

The top 22 and all ties advance to the second stage of PGA qualifying and after the first two rounds, 4-under stands as the cutoff point to finish in the top 22.

Another golfer with local ties, Doug Quienalty, a former Carson City resident, struggled to a 78 on Wednesday after shooting 71 to put him at a 5-over 149.

Jim Rutledge of British Columbia, Jon Wright of Sandy, Utah and Brett Wayment of Logan, Utah are all tied for second, one stroke back at 135. Brad Sutterfield of St. George, Utah, who was in second after a 66 on Tuesday, is two strokes back at 136.

Sosa, Dean Vomacka and Steve Young, all playing in the same group, combined to make 18 birdies. Vomacka one-putted six of the first seven holes on his way to a two-round total of 137.

"That just inspired me," Sosa said.

Young is tied with Sosa at 138. "I think we were feeding off of each other," Sosa said. "It's kind of fun when everybody makes birdies and is pushing each other.

"I guess we were just all around the hole. I'm just so thankful right now."

Sosa had seven birdies, no bogeys and missed just two greens. "I hit it a little straighter off the tee," he said. "I allowed the slopes of the gree to take my ball to the hole instead of trying to flag everything."

Sosa said his game plan was simple: To stay focused and play one hole at a time.

"I did a lot better today than I did yesterday," said Sosa about following his game plan.

A native of El Paso, Texas who went on to play for the University of Texas and now lives in Austin, Sosa said he enjoys Dayton because it reminds him of the courses back home. At 31, this is really his first full year of playing golf. "I'm 31 and giving it a shot," he said.

Molder has already played in five PGA events. "I'm hanging in there," he said. "I haven't played well, yet. I just haven't gotten it going, yet."

Molder bogeyed two of his first three holes, but rebounded to shoot a 69.

"I really played well outside of that," he said. "I hit it close all day.

"There's pressure but at the same time all you can do is go out and play and control what you can control."