WINNIPEG, Manitoba – John Keefer birdied three consecutive holes to get to 9-under Friday with four holes to play to take sole possession of the lead at the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open. Neal Shipley is in solo second after carding a bogey-free 8-under 64 on Friday, while five players are currently tied for third. Second-round play was suspended due to darkness and will resume Saturday morning at 7:45 a.m. CDT.

Currently the No. 2 player in the Fortinet Cup points list, Keefer has four runner-up finishes in seven starts through the North America Swing. Since beginning his professional career in June, Keefer has not missed a cut and has finished inside the top-10 six times.

Keefer earned status for the North America Swing after he finished 25th in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2024. Keefer jumped into the top-25 after a T11 finish at the NCAA National Championship in May.

In 141 career rounds at Baylor University, Keefer had a cumulative stroke average of 71.45, the best mark in program history. Keefer was also a two-time All-Big 12 selection in 2022 and 2024 and set the Baylor program record for lowest tournament score at the 2024 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional, where he carded a 12-under 198 and finished T2.

Second-round play was suspended at 8:25 p.m. CDT due to darkness with 38 players yet to finish. Second-round play will resume at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, with third-round tee times running from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. off the No. 1 and 10 tees.

About John Keefer (Leader/-18)  

Age: 23
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
Residence: San Antonio, Texas
College: Baylor University
Fortinet Cup (start of week): Second

• Keffer has a cumulative scoring average of 65.52 through seven starts this summer, which is No. 1 on PGA TOUR Americas.
• He has made the cut in all seven starts this summer since earning membership through PGA TOUR University.
• Finished his collegiate career with the lowest stroke average in Baylor program history (71.45), besting Jimmy Walker’s mark of 71.55.
• Named to the All-Big 12 team twice (2022, 2024).
• Only individual to be named Big 12 Men’s Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year three times (2022, 2023, 2024).
• Set Baylor tournament scoring record at 2024 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional with a score of 12-under 198.
• Finished T11 at NCAA National Championship, the best individual finish at Nationals in Baylor program history.
• Became the fourth player in Baylor history to be named to the Arnold Palmer Cup team (2022).
• Recipient of the 2024 Scout McNealy Award, which is awarded to a member of the Baylor Men’s Golf team who exemplifies excellence in their everyday lif.

Competition notes  

Course setup: Par 72 / 7,311 yards
Weather: Sunny with a high of 83. Wind from the northwest at 2-5 mph with gusts up to 10 mph.

• Second-round play was delayed for two hours and ten minutes Friday morning due to heavy fog; play started at 9:40 a.m. CDT.
• Keefer holds sole possession of the lead after getting to 18-under with four holes to play in the second round.
• With a win, Keefer would move to No. 1 in the Fortinet Cup points list.
• Four countries are represented in the top five and ties: United States (4), Argentina (1), Canada (1) and England (1).
• Argentina’s Andres Gallegos (T3/-14) is the low Latin through Friday; Gallegos will resume his second round on Saturday with seven holes to play.
• Noah Steele is the low Canadian (T3/-14) after carding an 8-under 64 on Friday.
• The projected cutline sits at 7-under, with 69 players in position to play the weekend.
• Hole No. 2 – the 228-yard par 3 – was the most challenging hole at Southwood Golf and Country Club; averaging a +.250.