Gates, Anderson tied with Summerhays at midway point of Athens Classic

As expected, the wind picked up and the greens sped up, but the top of the standings retained its familiar look.

Two of the three first-round leaders retained their position amid swirling winds and rising temperatures after Friday's second round of the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA.

First-round leaders Bobby Gates and Mark Anderson shot 2-under 69s to stay on top on cut day at 7-under 135. Daniel Summerhays birdied the last three holes, including a chip-in on No. 18, to shoot a 3-under 68 and jump into a tie with Gates and Anderson.

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"There's not too many shots that I left out there," Summerhays said. "Now that the greens are getting firm and fast, it's a challenge. Everything was working. I hit it great. I drove it better than I did yesterday. Yesterday I was a little bit off with the driver. I honestly feel like I played better today than I did yesterday. But I think the course played tougher this afternoon than it did yesterday morning, just with the breeze going and the greens getting firm and fast."

Anderson had a chance to finish the day in sole possession of first place, but he bogeyed No. 18 and fell into the three-way tie.

"I hit a really solid drive down the right side," Anderson said. "I think the wind blowing off the left drifted to the right and it nestled buried in the pine straw right behind a pine tree. I had no choice but to chip it out. I made a good up-and-down for bogey. I had this long, long chip on 18 just to get bogey, so I was fortunate."

Anderson's second round displayed some nice symmetry as he bogeyed his first and last hole of the day. But he made up for it with four birdies, two on par-4s. Despite keeping pace with the leaders, Anderson wasn't impressed with his ball striking on Friday.

"I hit my irons pretty well," Anderson said. "I didn't drive it as well as I usually do. I didn't hit the greens like I'm used to. I was kind of driving to both sides of the golf course, so it was tough to play. I missed a lot of putts, like less than 10 feet. But I haven't made any big numbers. You have to really stay away from those because they're out there. I've kind of pl

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