Flores Takes One-Stroke Lead at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship

Martin Flores is at the top of the leaderboard…

The 33-year-old Latino golfer shot a 1-under 70 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Web.com Tour FinalsNationwide Children’s Hospital Championship.

Martin Flores

Flores, tied for the first-round lead after a 67, had three birdies and two bogeys, all on the back nine, to reach 5-under 137 on Ohio State’s difficult Scarlet Course.

He has played the PGA Tour five of the past six seasons.

“I try to do a good job of keeping a good attitude,” said Flores. “Sometimes it’s a struggle, but this game is tough sometimes. … Everybody has a battle within themselves of some kind when they play. It’s overcoming that battle and going out there and executing golf shots.”

The tournament is the third of four events in the series for the top 75 players from the Web.com Tour money list, Nos. 126-200 in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings and nonmembers who earned enough money to have placed in the top 200 had they been eligible to receive points.

The top 25 players on Web.com regular-season money list earned PGA Tour cards. They are competing against one another for PGA Tour priority, with regular-season earnings counting in their totals. The other players are fighting for another 25 cards based on series earnings.

Flores was 156th in the FedEx Cup and has made $2,900 in the series.

“Every year, if you don’t go out and prove yourself, you’re going to get beat up a little bit,” Flores said. “Sometimes you take a step back to take a couple of leaps forward.”

Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer‘s grandson, was tied for second with Roberto Castro, Luke List and Australia’s Rhein Gibson. List shot a 67, and Saunders, Castro and Gibson shot 68.