Poutine, putts and a packed leaderboard

Garrison Smith isn’t sure why he’s playing the best golf of his life up in Canada this summer.

But the 26-year-old Texan has a very tasty theory.

“You know, I did have poutine here (Thursday) night. And I had some in New Brunswick, too,” Smith said Friday as he grabbed a share of the lead at the midway point of the Manitoba Open at Elmhurst.

He may be on to something.

Smith’s only other work experience north of the border came last month, when he finished tied for fifth in Fredericton. Now, he’s put himself in prime position to make a run at his first PGA Tour Americas title after rounds of 67-65 left him at eight-under par.

Not surprisingly, Smith predicted more fries, gravy and cheese curds would be on the menu this weekend.

He entered the week 77th in the 2026 tour standings and needing to make a move over the final five tournaments if he wants to crack the top 10 and earn a promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour for next season.

“Made a lot of good putts. That’s really all it comes down to for me to play a good round is putting it well,” said Smith.

“I’m trying not to think about where I’m going to end up and just convince myself to play good every day and not worry about what’s going on down the road. Play as good as I can, stay patient with myself, play my own game and don’t worry what the numbers are.”

Smith has plenty of company at the top of the leaderboard.

Four other golfers are tied with him for first at eight-under — fellow Americans Austin Greaser and Adam Duncan, Taiwan’s Chuan-Tai Lin and Swedish rookie Daniel Svard, who wrapped up his collegiate career at Northwestern University earlier this year and is playing in only his fourth professional event.

He, too, is enjoying his time in the Great White North. The 23-year-old made his professional debut at that same event in New Brunswick and was among the leaders through 36 holes before fading on the weekend and finishing tied for 36th.

“I quickly learned how different it is once you make (the cut). I probably wasn’t ready for that kind of mindset change and the atmosphere. I was kind of overwhelmed a little bit,” said Svard.

“Weeks two and three for me, I was probably learning more about what it takes to grind to make the cut and really just discovering what it means to be a professional. Now I feel confident and ready to go on the attack this weekend.”

Is Svard also being powered by poutine?

“I’ve actually never had it,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know if I’m going to risk it this weekend and try it. I’m not that adventurous when it comes to food. But I’m going to have to try it eventually. Maybe that’s the secret?”

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.

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.

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.

“I barely made it into the clubhouse. The last few holes I made it really hard on myself,” said Kuntz, who had to go through Monday qualifying just to get into the tournament.

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.

“I was like ‘Wow, what happened?’ Not the way I wanted to finish off my round, but things happen,” he said.

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’s exemptions.

“If you told me that I’d be playing the weekend before teeing it up Monday, I’d be pretty happy with myself. To make it through Monday qualifying and make the cut as well, that’s great,” said Kuntz.

“Obviously there’s a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but at the same time we’re only halfway through the tournament, so fingers crossed. I’ve got lots of time to get it back.”

The field of 156 has now been cut to the top 60 and ties, with 62 golfers making it at two-under or better.

Kuntz isn’t surprised nobody is running away with the tournament.

“The greens are tricky, the pins are tucked. I don’t think anyone is going to be shooting eight, nine, 10 under a round out here,” he said.

“It’s encouraging because if I do get really hot I might have a chance. But Elmhurst is holding its own.”

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.

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.

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.

Third round play gets underway at 7 a.m. Saturday, with the leaders teeing off later in the morning.

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