Ian Holt holds two-stroke lead after Round 2 suspended at Explore NB Open

FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – Due to unplayable course conditions, the second round of the Explore NB Open was suspended Saturday and will resume Sunday morning at 5:45 a.m. ET. Ian Holt currently holds the lead at 17-under with one hole left to play in the second round. Rookie John Keefer trails by two strokes with three players tied for third at 14-under.

Holt holds sole possession of the lead after breaking away from a five-way tie at the conclusion of Friday’s first round. This week marks Holt’s third consecutive start on PGA TOUR Americas as he initially earned a spot in the opening event of the North America Swing via Monday Qualifying. The 28-year-old solidified his spot in the Explore NB Open by claiming back-to-back top-25 finishes at The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist followed by the ATB Classic. This marks Holt’s second 36-hole lead/co-lead in his career, as he led by two strokes at the 2022 ATB Classic on PGA TOUR Canada and finished tied for 15th.

Holt turned professional in 2018 after graduating from Kent State University, where he played four collegiate seasons (2014-18) and claimed three individual victories (2018/MAC Championships, 2017/The Gopher Invitational, 2016/Cleveland State Invitational). Notably, he earned 2018 All-America Second Team honors and back-to-back Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Year awards (2017, 2018). Holt holds the second-lowest season scoring average at Kent State at 71.23 (0.49 under par).

Upon graduation from Kent State, Holt played on PGA TOUR Canada for four seasons and recorded the best finish of his career in 2022, as he claimed the No. 10 position in the Fortinet Cup. In 2023, Holt played primarily on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he appeared in 16 events. His only top-25 finish came at The Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club. Without membership earlier this year, Holt competed in PGA TOUR Americas Q-School and earned conditional status for the North America Swing. With a victory this week, Holt would become an exempt member for the remainder of the season and into the 2025 Latin America Swing.

Per the PGA TOUR Americas Rule Committee, the second round of the Explore NB Open will resume at 6:45 a.m. AT, 5:45 a.m. ET. Round three tee times are expected to begin at approximately 7:15 a.m. ET and run until 9:15 a.m. ET in threesomes off the Nos. 1 and 10 tee. Final round tee times will begin following the conclusion of round three play.

About Ian Holt (First/-17)

Age: 28
Birthplace: Stow, Ohio
Residence: Charleston, South Carolina
College: Kent State University
Fortinet Cup (start of week): 96th

• Played four seasons at Kent State University (2014-18), earning a 2018 All-America Second Team laurel and back-to-back Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018.
• A conditional member on PGA TOUR Americas after finishing inside the top 25 and ties at the British Columbia Q-School site last month; made his third consecutive start after Monday Qualifying into The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist and finishing inside the top 25 in back-to-back events.
• Frequently attended the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, as a kid and tried to get as many signatures as possible on his hat.
• Grew up playing Fox Den Golf Course in Stow, Ohio; he also worked on the maintenance crew throughout high school and college.
• In his amateur career, won the 2013 Hudson Junior Invitational and was a three-time OHSAA All-State selection who was medalist at the 2011 OHSAA DIVISION I State Championship.

Competition notes

Course setup: Par 71 / 7,020 yards; R2 average: 67.57
Weather: Cloudywith late afternoon showers and a high of 84. Wind from the southwest at 3-7 mph with gusts up to 14 mph.

• The current projected 36-hole cut line of 7-under 135 (18 players at T58) would be the lowest cut line on PGA TOUR Americas (previous lowest: 4-under/The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist).
• The 36-hole cut will be made upon completion of the second round Sunday morning, while third-round tee times will run from 8:15 a.m. through 10:15 a.m. AT in groups of three off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees.
• Leader Ian Holt (first/-17) has one hole left to play and is expected to hold the 36-hole lead/co-lead for the second time in his career (previous: 2022 PGA TOUR Canada ATB Classic).
• Canadian Lawren Rowe (T28/-9) posted the new course record and low round of the day at Mactaquac Golf Course in 9-under 62.
• Three Canadians are in the top-25, led by Team Canada member Matthew Anderson (T6/-13), who is No. 2 in the Fortinet Cup, along with A.J. Ewart (T8/-12) and Brady McKinlay (T21/-10).
• Back-to-back winner and Fortinet Cup No. 1 Frederik Kjettrup is tied for 28th at 9-under.
• Chile’s Agustin Errázuriz (T28/-9) is the low Latin through the second round thus far.
• Jake Scott (T28/-9) leads four Monday Qualifiers in the field who are expected to make the cut: Matthew Sutherland (T43/-8), Caleb Manuel (T58/-7) and Charlie Nikitas (T58/-7).
• Hole No. 7 – the 510-yard par 4 – is the most challenging hole at Mactaquac Golf Course; averaging a +.280.