RTO Notebook

RTO Notebook

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO - Todd Fischer lives on the second hole of Montreux Golf & Country Club, and knows the layout better than anybody in the field. Local knowledge has helped put Fischer into good position after two rounds of the 9th annual Reno-Tahoe Open.

Fischer, who lost his PGA card after last season and has been playing on the Nationwide Tour this year, is sitting at 7-under-par 137 after rounds of 69 on Thursday and 68 on Friday over the par-72 track.

"I'm hitting it good," Fischer said. "The last few weeks I've hit it better than I have the last two days out here. Getting it into the hole is a different story. It's been frustrating.

"I've had opportunities (both days) I let go. I didn't capitalize on too many mistakes. I bogeyed both par-3s on the front, and that's kind of irritating. I'm not in a bad spot."

If Fischer, who is tied for fourth can finish in the top-10, he'll get an exemption into the Wyndham Championship in two weeks. A win would give him a spot in next week's PGA Championship.

The three other players with Northern Nevada ties - Charlie Wi, Michael Allan and Rich Barcelo all made the 36-hole cut. Wi shot a 2-over 74 and his 4-under-par. Allan shot an even-par 72 and currently sits at 2-under-par. Rich Barcelo also shot a 72 and is 1-under for the tournament.

HOLE PERFORMANCE

Through two rounds, the par-3 16th has played to a 3.336, making it the most difficult hole. The second-toughest hole is No. 7, the 220-yard par-3, which is playing to a 3.227.

The easiest hole is the par-5 4th which is playing to a 4.685 average. The second-easiest is the par-5 11th which is playing to a 4.765 average.

DEFINING MOMENTS

Charles Warren said the two biggest days in his golf life were making the cut at the AT&T Pebble Beach in 2000 and being at Augusta National as a youngster the day Jack Nicklaus won the Masters in 1986.

"When you look back at the days that shaped you as a golfer, that was a neat day to be at Augusta," Warren said. "I'll never forget that. Even at 10 years old, you could tell. There's not many things you can realize at 10 years old that are special, but at 10 years old, I knew something really incredible happened and I was there to see it."

NICE COMEBACK

Tenn phenom Tadd Fujikawa, who struggled to a first-round 78, fired a 1-under-par 71 on Friday for a 36-hole total of 149.

Fujikawa got off to another slow start and was 10-over-par at one point, but he shot 32 on his final nine with four birdies. The 5-foot-1 16-year-old said his distance control was much better.

"I hit a lot of good iron shots," he said. "My distance was a lot better. I kept it out of the rough pretty good today. You really need to do that, especially with this rough."

Fujikawa said he appreciated the large gallery he had both days.

"That's surprising because I didn't do too well," Fujikawa said. "But I'm really happy all these people are supporting me. I appreciate it, and hopefully I will do better the next time.

"I'm really happy I made the decision to turn pro. I stuck to it, and I think it's going pretty well. I didn't make the cut in this one, but I definitely learned a lot."

PENALTY TIME

Lucas Glover was penalized two shots for a rules infraction on No. 10, and he finished with an even-par 72.

After his drive, Glover took an illegal drop. He dropped his ball, and then could have gotten a two-club length relief after the drop. Glover didn't like the drop and picked his ball up. He was informed of the infraction on the 14th.

"I didn't know the rule and it cost me two shots," Glover said. "I feel rotten. I probably shouldn't have gotten another chance. I did finish strong with two birdies in the wind coming in."

FACTS & FIGURES

Duffy Waldorf made the cut for the ninth consecutive year. Waldorf is at even-par 144 ... Jose Coceros is looking to become, since 1971, the 17th winner of a PGA Tour event to record a hole-in-one during the week. Some of the players on that list are Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Hale Irwin and Jim Furyk (twice) ... George McNeill and Bob Burns withdrew after the first round. Greg Owen (back, hip) withdrew during the second round because of injury. Steve Jones was disqualified for failing to sign his scorecard after an 83... There has never been a foreign-born champion at the RTO. Besides Coceres, Brendon de Jonge, Steve Allan and Jarrod Lyle are in the top-10 entering the final 36 rounds.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281