CORDOBA, Argentina – The second round of the 93 Abierto Telecom del Centro presentado por Zurich was suspended due to darkness at 6:01 p.m. ET and will resume at 7:30 a.m. ET Saturday morning. John Marshall Butler carded an 8-under 63 to take hold of the second-round lead of the 93 Abierto Telecom del Centro presentado por Zurich, with 22 groups yet to complete their round. Conner Godsey, Ryan Grider (thru 9) and Mats Ege share second in 10-under, and five players are tied for fifth at 9-under.

In his first season as a professional, Auburn alum Butler carded the low round of the day in 8-under 63 via nine birdies against one bogey, tying his career-low round. The second-year member notably made headlines in his PGA TOUR Americas debut last season at the Times Colonist Victoria Open presented by Andrew Sheret Limited where he held the 36-hole co-lead and finished T5, the best finish of his career thus far.

Butler exceled in his collegiate career at Auburn University, as he wrapped his four years with a national championship, and secured the title-clinching point against Florida State’s Luke Clanton, helping lead Auburn to the program’s first national championship title. Additionally, Butler was a three-time individual winner and three-time All-American at Auburn (2022-24).

Godsey, who finished No. 14 in the 2024 Fortinet Cup standings, remains in the hunt as he entered the second round tied for second. His two-day 132 ties his second-best 36-hole total. Last season, the 33-year-old made 11 cuts in 16 starts, highlighted by back-to-back top-three finishes at the 69th ECP Brazil Open (T2) and the Diners Club Peru Open (T3). Godsey entered the 2024 Fortinet Cup Championship No. 10 in the Fortinet Cup standings, but ultimately slipped out of contention for a Korn Ferry Tour card (top 10 in Points List) with a T57 finish at the season finale.

Round 2 will resume at 7:30 a.m. ET Saturday morning, and Round 3 will run from approximately 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET, in threesomes, off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees.

Charting the leader

About J.M. Butler (1st/-13)

• Looks to establish the second 36-hole lead/co-lead of his career (previous: 2024 Times Colonist Victoria Open presented by Andrew Sheret Limited/finished T5)
• Cards an 8-under 63 via nine birdies (Nos. 1, 2, 5, 10, 12, 15-18) against one bogey (No. 14); currently leads the field in birdies (14)
• In nine events played in 2024, Butler made six cuts, highlighted by two top-25 finishes including a career-best T5 finish at the Times Colonist Victoria Open presented by Andrew Sheret Limited
• Finished No. 80 in the Fortinet Cup standings, securing exempt membership for the Latin America Swing of the 2025 season (top 80 from Fortinet Cup)
• Played four collegiate seasons at Auburn (2020-24) and closed his senior year with a national championship title, the first of its kind in Auburn school history; Butler was the only player in the 2024 NCAA Championship to never trail in match play
• Named Second Team All-SEC, PING All-Region and PING Honorable Mention All-America in his senior season
• Amateur accolades include being a U.S. Amateur semifinalist, a KHSAA Individual State Championship, SEC All-Freshman team in 2021, and 107th Kentucky Amateur champion

Competition notes 

Course setup: Par 71 / 6,878 yards; R2 average: 69.87

Weather: Cloudy with a high of 73. Wind from the south-southeast at 2-7 mph with gusts up to 15 mph.  

• Three countries are represented in the top five and ties: United States (6), Argentina (2), and Norway (1).
• Conner Godsey (T2/-10), who finished No. 14 in the 2024 Fortinet Cup standings, is in line to establish a career-high 36-hole position (previous: T7/2024 Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship).
• The No. 11 finisher in the Class of 2024 PGA TOUR University Ranking, Mats Ege (T2/-10), posts a second-round 6-under 65; stands T2 in his PGA TOUR Americas debut.
• 18-hole leader Hunter Wolcott stands T5 at 9-under thru 9 holes in his second round.
• Argentines Martin Contini and Fabián Gómez share fifth place at 9-under and lead six Latins in the top 25: José Cristóbal Islas (T15/-7), Ángel Cabrera T19/-6), Ricardo Celia (T19/-6 thru 9*), and Paul Chaplet (T24/-5).
• Theo Humphrey (T5/-9 thru 12) eyes the low round of Round 2 as he is 7-under thru 12 holes; stands T5 in his second career start on PGA TOUR Americas after earning conditional status via Second Stage of 2024 PGA TOUR Q-School.
• 2024 Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open winner and Team Canada member A.J. Ewart (T19/-6) is the lone Canadian in the top 25 with three Canadians yet to complete their second round.