SPRINGDALE -- Brett Granata used a blistering second round to flip the leaderboard in his favor Saturday at the 78th Dwight Collins Chick-A-Tee Invitational at Springdale Country Club.
In many ways, it's deja vu for the former Chick-A-Tee champion.
78th Dwight Collins Chick-A-Tee Invitational
When: June 17-19
Where: Springdale Country Club
Second Round Results
Championship Flight
Brett Granata — 70-64—134
Chris Collins — 64-75 — 139
Steven Dixon — 72-70 — 142
Michael Chaney — 73-70 — 143
Josh Farrell — 68-75—143
Alex Neal — 71-73 — 144
Jacob Bartel — 68-76 —144
Stephen Stanton — 72-73 — 145
Drew Stewart — 72-74 — 146
John David Lindsey — 74-73 — 147
Matt Wait — 72-76 — 148
Jeff Farver — 77-73 — 150
Brian Taylor — 77-73—150
Morgan Matthews — 72-78 — 150
Rob Craig — 80-76 — 156
Drew Comer — 83-82 — 165
Two years ago, Granata carded a second-day 65 to build a five-shot lead en route to his first-ever Chick-A-Tee victory. Saturday, the Springdale Country Club member went one better, scoring an 8-under par 64 for a two-day total of 10-under 134.
But just like two years ago, the low number in round two has Granata set up well for today's final 18 holes, carrying a five-stoke lead into the final round.
"It was a good round and I just made a lot of putts and kept hitting greens and giving myself chances," Granata said. "I kept capitalizing and I even chipped in once and that always helps when you have a low round. So it was just a real good round."
Granata, playing in a championship flight group along with Drew Stewart, Whit Weeks and Kraig Williams, began his round on the par 4, No. 14. After back-to-back pars to open the day, he reeled off three straight birdies at Nos. 16, 17 and 18. An eagle on the par 5, No. 2 and another birdie on the par 4, No. 4 got Granata to 6-under through his first nine holes of the day.
Play was then briefly halted as heavy rains hit the course. The short delay cooled Granata's hot streak, but not for long.
"We just got to the No. 5 green when the rain started coming down and we had to sit there 45 minutes or an hour," Granata said. "My next two tee shots I hit were big hooks so I wasn't feeling too good after the restart, but I managed to save pars on those holes."
Chris Collins, who built a four shot lead after Friday's round with a 8-under 64 of his own, dropped back to second with a 3-over 75 on Saturday.
"Just couldn't get started this morning," Collins said. "The swing didn't feel good, my speed on the greens weren't very good and I couldn't get anything going and I just put myself in a bad position all day long.
"But fortunately it's a three day tournament and I'll come back ready to go (Sunday)."
Former Chick-A-Tee champion Steven Dixon is 2-under 142 after a Saturday round of 70 and sits in third place. Defending champion Josh Farrell and Michael Chaney are tied for fourth at 143.
"You've got to be able to make your putts and make your lag putts and get up and down around the green," Granata said. "And I'm just going to keep weathering the storm until the end."
Sports on 06/19/2016