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![\"MIKE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4498542_web1_260820-golf-0128.jpg\")
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MIKE DEAL \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Despite falling from just one shot back of the lead to being tied for 40th after Friday, Winnipegger Braxton Kuntz has made the cut for the first time at the Manitoba Open. He previously played three times on sponsor\u2019s exemptions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
American Cole Anderson is one shot off the lead at seven-under, while a pack of nine golfers are two shots back at six-under. Among the eight players tied at five-under is first-round leader Drew Doyle, who followed up his opening 64 with a 71 on Friday.<\/p>\n
Noah Steele and Peyton Callens of Ontario, Etienne Papineau and Joey Savoie of Quebec and Brady McKinlay of Alberta are the top Canadians, all tied for 24th at four-under par.<\/p>\n
Winnipegger Braxton Kuntz actually held that distinction until his final hole Friday. He was sitting at five-under but closed with a double bogey, which came on the heels of a bogey on the 16th.<\/p>\n
\u201cI barely made it into the clubhouse. The last few holes I made it really hard on myself,\u201d said Kuntz, who had to go through Monday qualifying just to get into the tournament.<\/p>\n
Kuntz was in good shape after his drive on 18, with only about 97 yards left to the hole on the par-four. But he chunked his shot out of the rough, hitting it directly out of bounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was like \u2018Wow, what happened?\u2019 Not the way I wanted to finish off my round, but things happen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Kuntz shot a five-under 65 on Thursday and was just one shot off the lead, but now finds himself five shots off the pace and in a tie for 40th following his 72. Still, he has made the cut for the first time at the Manitoba Open, having previously played three times on sponsor\u2019s exemptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you told me that I\u2019d be playing the weekend before teeing it up Monday, I\u2019d be pretty happy with myself. To make it through Monday qualifying and make the cut as well, that\u2019s great,\u201d said Kuntz.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously there\u2019s a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but at the same time we\u2019re only halfway through the tournament, so fingers crossed. I\u2019ve got lots of time to get it back.\u201d<\/p>\n
The field of 156 has now been cut to the top 60 and ties, with 62 golfers making it at two-under or better.<\/p>\n
Kuntz isn\u2019t surprised nobody is running away with the tournament.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe greens are tricky, the pins are tucked. I don\u2019t think anyone is going to be shooting eight, nine, 10 under a round out here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s encouraging because if I do get really hot I might have a chance. But Elmhurst is holding its own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among those right on the cut line is the No. 1 player on tour, Thomas Ponder, who has gone 68-70 so far and will be looking to make a big weekend run.<\/p>\n
Two other Winnipeggers teed it up this week on sponsor exemptions. Ryan McMillan, the assistant pro at Elmhurst and the University of Manitoba golf coach, finished at nine-over after rounds of 75-74. And Manitoba Amateur champion Rory Neill was 11-over after going 73-78.<\/p>\n
Play was delayed for more than an hour Friday afternoon as an intense thunderstorm rolled through, bringing high winds which knocked over some tents on the course.<\/p>\n
Third round play gets underway at 7 a.m. Saturday, with the leaders teeing off later in the morning.<\/p>\n
www.winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n
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Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Reporter
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