Fredericton, New Brunswick – Marcus Byrd and David Perkins hold the clubhouse lead at the Explore NB Open at 11-under in the second round at Mactaquac Golf Course. Second-round play was suspended on Friday due to darkness at 9:08 p.m. local time.

Due to inclement weather, Byrd was only able to play seven holes of his first round on Thursday. After resuming his first round on Friday morning, Byrd played 29 holes at 10-under to take hold of the clubhouse lead. Perkins matched Byrd at 11-under late Friday after two birdies on Nos. 12-13 and an eagle on No. 15.

Byrd made starts in all six events of the Latin America Swing, where he finished in the top-10 three times, including a season-best T5 at the Bupa Championship. Perkins has also registered three top-10’s in six starts, including a runner-up finish at the Diners Club Peru Open.

In addition to Byrd and Perkins’ ascension to the top of the leaderboard, Costa Rica’s Paul Chaplet carded the low round of the day with a 9-under 62. After starting the second round on No. 10, Chaplet made eight straight birdies on Nos. 12-1 to move to T5. Friday’s 62 is also a career low-round for Chaplet.

Thirty players making up 10 groups will return to Mactaquac Golf Course on Saturday morning to finish the second round. Play is expected to resume at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with the third round expected to start at 11 a.m. off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees.

Charting the leaders

About Marcus Byrd (T1/-11)

 

• Holds sole possession of the lead midway through the second round after carding a 6-under 65 on Friday
• Played 29 holes on Friday at 10-under after finishing the first round on Friday
• Made 19 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024, which included two top-10 finishes (BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX/T9, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open/ninth)
• Finished as the No. 1 player in the APGA Tour points list in 2023
• Favorite sports team is the New York Knicks

About David Perkins (T1/-11)

 

• Finished the Latin America Swing as the No. 8 player in the Fortinet Cup after three top-10s in six starts
• Three-time winner on the Minor League Golf Tour; in February, won a two-day event at Indian Spring Country Club in Boyton Beach, Florida, with an eagle on the first playoff hole
• First professional victory came at the 2022 Illinois Open, held at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville, Illinois, just 140 miles from his hometown of Peoria, Illinois
• Growing up, attended the John Deere Classic with his father; received a sponsor exemption into the 2021 John Deere Classic on his 23rd birthday (June 15, 2021); went on to miss the cut (72-70) in his first TOUR-sanctioned start
• As an amateur, was ranked as high as 32nd in WAGR; finished runner-up at the 2020 Jones Cup behind champion Davis Thompson, and lost to Mac Meissner in a playoff at the 2020 Southern Amateur
• In five seasons at Illinois State (2016-21), posted 18 top-10s and one victory and was twice named Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Year
• Became a member of a PGA TOUR-sanctioned tour for the first time in 2024 when he finished runner-up to Jay Card III at the mid-season Q-School site in Dothan, Alabama
• Posted six top-20s, including three top-10s, and finished 28th in the 2024 Fortinet Cup to retain membership through the 2025 Latin America Swing

Competition notes

 

Course setup: Par 71 / 7,132 yards; R2 average: 69.508*

Weather: Sunny with a high of 22C (77). Wind from the NW at 9-18 km/h with gusts up to 28 km/h.  

• Marcus Byrd and David Perkins share the lead at the Explore NB Open after Friday at 11-under.
• Two countries are represented in the top five and ties: United States (11) and Costa Rica (one).
• Will Holan, Thomas Giroux and Peyton Callens (T17/-7) are the low-Canadians after Friday.
• Costa Rica’s Paul Chaplet carded his career low round (62/-9) which included eight straight birdies between Nos. 12-1 (started round on No. 10): Chaplet’s previous best was a 6-under 64, which he carded twice in 2024.
• Hole No. 12, the 495-yard par 5, played as the easiest hole on Friday (-0.776 strokes under par).
• Hole No. 8, the 210-yard par 3, played as the toughest hole at Mactaquac Golf Course on Friday (+0.207 strokes over par).
• The cut currently sits at 4-under, with 71 players inside that number.