Herron surges to RTO after a second round score of 7-under

RENO -- Tim Herron hasn't played this well or been this fit since winter. So after a day of unseasonably cool and cloudy weather on Friday, maybe it's no surprise he's the current leader at the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Herron fired a 7-under 65 during his second round and leads Craig Barlow by one stroke and Kirk Triplett by two strokes going into today's third round at Montreux Golf and Country Club. Herron, who has dropped his waist size to a 39, was forced to walk 32 holes Friday, 14 of which were make-up holes from Thursday's suspended first round. It's the first time the Herron has led at a tournament since the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in February, when he tied for third.

"I think I'll be feeling it (all the holes). I'll try and stay loose and I'll have some time to kind of wind down," said Herron, who has three top-10 finishes this year, all of which came in either February or early March. "I missed the cut last year but I've played pretty well here."

Herron held a first-round lead two years ago the RTO and will be looking for his first tour win since the Bay Hill Invitational in 1999. Herron's solid round was also spurred by Guy Boros, who played in his group and boasts a waist size of 42 All the holes and walking also took a toll on Boros, who had eight birdies and two bogeys during his round. Two of Boros' birdies were on the final three holes, which then dropped him back in a tie for fourth with David Sutherland at 7-under.

"That was a long way for me," Boros said. "I'm a little tired right now. I played well. I didn't really hit two bad shots on the bogeys. My confidence is pretty good right now. Hopefully it will continue the next two days."

Thursday's weather delay not only affected the current leaders but also the players chasing the lead. Triplett, a 1985 University of Nevada graduate, still has 14 holes to play in his second round, which he'll complete this morning. Triplett birdied his first three holes on Friday evening before the horn ended play around 7:30 p.m.

Barlow, meanwhile, is also providing some local appeal. He was born and currently resides in Henderson. He's also a close friend of former UNLV star Chris Riley, who won last year's RTO and is playing this week at the NEC-World Golf Championships in Akron, Ohio.

"I actually talked to him this week," said Barlow, who fired a 7-under Friday to get to 9-under for the tournament. "I told him I was going to try and defend the title for him. But I have a lot of golf left. I've been playing well the last couple of months, the only problem was my putting. I really putted well today and I needed a little confidence and I've found it."

Brian Gay and Nick Watney, a former Fresno State star, both shot 6-under 66s to get to 6-under and four shots back of Heron. The continuation of the second begins today at 7:30 a.m. with no indication of when the third round will start.