Kyung-Tae Kim of Korea tees off on the first hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 8, 2011, in Augusta, Ga.Charlie Riedel
Defending champion Andy Matthews widened his lead at the Canadian Tour's Mexican PGA Championship on Friday after shooting four-under-par 68 at the Estrella del Mar Golf Club in Mazatlan, Mexico.
The 31-year-old American has a two-day total of 10-under 134, two clear of Rafael Claux of Peru and Justin Itzen of the United States, who birdied four of his final five holes.
"It was not as clean a round today but my caddie Pedro was a big help reading the greens", Matthews said. "It took a little while to get my rhythm going but I made a great birdie put on 3 which settled me down. It was nice to know I had one in the bank and playing with house money always feels a little easier."
Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., was the low Canadian, in fourth place at seven under in his season debut. Sloan joined the tour in 2009 and his best finish has been a tie for fourth.
Mike Mezei of Lethbridge, Alta., was among a group of four players sharing eighth spot at five under.
American John Ellis, the event's 2008 champion, was among those to miss the halfway cut. The tour's leading money winner this year, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., rallied on Friday with a 69 after opening with 75 Thursday. He was tied for 42nd and qualified for weekend play.
The Mexican PGA Championship is the developmental circuit's final event in Latin America before its domestic schedule begins in June.