Manitoba Open: Braxton Kuntz falters in second round, drops to 40th

Winnipeg golfer Braxton Kuntz experienced a significant shift in fortunes during the second round of the PGA Tour Americas Manitoba Open. After a strong opening round that placed him tied for second, Kuntz carded a 72 on Friday, leaving him at minus-3 and five shots behind the leaders heading into the weekend.

The 22-year-old's round at the Elmhurst Golf and Country Club was marked by inconsistency. He made two bogeys and a birdie on his front nine, reaching the turn at one-over-par. While he managed two birdies on the back nine, a bogey, a par, and a crucial double bogey on his final hole, the 18th, saw him slip 38 places on the leaderboard to a tie for 40th.

"I barely made it into the clubhouse the last few holes," Kuntz admitted. "I made it really hard on myself, but yeah, I was proud of the way that I fought back after a rough start and got it going. And for whatever reason on my 14th hole of the day, I kinda lost it and was just grinding coming in. And I did a pretty good job of it until 18. That was a bit of a head-scratcher but that’s golf, it happens."

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I barely made it into the clubhouse the last few holes. I made it really hard on myself, but yeah, I was proud of the way that I fought back after a rough start and got it going. And for whatever reason on my 14th hole of the day, I kinda lost it and was just grinding coming in. And I did a pretty good job of it until 18. That was a bit of a head-scratcher but that’s golf, it happens.

Kuntz's final hole trouble stemmed from hitting his second shot over the green, resulting in a penalty stroke after it landed on the driving range. Despite the disappointing finish, he remains optimistic. "Obviously it was a bit of a sour taste in my mouth," he said. "But at the same time, we’re only halfway through the tournament, fingers crossed. So, I got lots of time to get it back."

Kuntz is the sole Manitoban to make the cut. Ryan McMillan finished at plus-9, and Manitoba men's amateur champion Rory Neill finished at plus-11, both failing to advance. The tournament features a five-way tie for the lead with Austin Greaser, Daniel Svärd, Garrison Smith, Adam Duncan, and Chuan-Tai Lin all at minus-8.

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Obviously it was a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. But at the same time, we’re only halfway through the tournament, fingers crossed. So, I got lots of time to get it back.