Fallbrook, CA – Daniel Miernicki of Santee, CA opened his week at the Golf Club of California Classic with a 1-over 36 on his front nine, falling six shots back of early leader Michael McCabe through just two-and-a-half hours of play on Wednesday morning. Since then, the former University of Oregon standout has been on fire, notching 11 birdies over his next 27 holes to reach 9-under 133 with 18 holes to play, good for a two-shot lead heading into Friday’s third and final round of the first-year event.

Miernicki, 24, posted a solid 3-under 68 on day one at host Golf Club of California, but sat tied for second, four shots back of McCabe, who opened the tournament with a 7-under 64.

In Thursday’s second round, Miernicki turned at 1-under 34 and 4-under par for the week after recording two birdies and a bogey at the par-3 seventh on his outward nine. For a second straight day, the back nine proved fruitful to the former Duck star, as birdies on 10, 12, 13, 14 and 18 delivered a 5-under 31 and a second-round 65, which pushed him to the top of the 36-hole leaderboard at 9-under 133.

Timothy Madigan

Miernicki’s stellar, four-year campaign in Eugene was well-documented, with honorable-mention “All America” honors as a freshman, second-team honors as a sophomore, and first-team honors as a senior. A member of the 2010 U.S. Palmer Cup team, Miernicki made two starts on the PGA TOUR and one start on the Web.com Tour after graduating in 2012.

Tim Madigan of Rio Rancho, NM and Shawn Jasper of Marthasville, MO are two shots back of Miernicki at 7-under 135.

Like Miernicki, Madigan also entered the day in a tie for second at 3-under par, then suffered one of the more up-and-down finishes in recent tournament golf memory.

The former New Mexico State star turned at 2-under 33 on day two, then proceeded to birdie 12, 14 and 15 to jump into the outright lead at 8-under par for the week.

At the par-3 16th, Madigan recorded a stunning hole-in-one to suddenly vault to 10-under par and well in control of the tournament lead. From there, the former New Mexico Open champion struggled, bogeying the par-4 17th and closing out his day with a disappointing double-bogey on the par-3 18th to finish off a second-round 67.

Madigan, a two-year member of the Charlotte, NC-based eGolf Tour, won the NorthStone Open in the fall of 2012, then played some of his most consistent golf in the latter part of 2013, finishing the season with four top-10s in his last five starts to wind up at No. 19 on the tour’s money list.

McCabe’s second round was a far cry from his stellar first, as a 6-over 41 on his outward nine put him behind the 36-hole cut eight ball. The 2013 Monterey Open champion rallied on the back nine, however, posting a 1-under 35 to make the cut on the number at 2-under 140 with a 5-over 76 in his second round.

Final-round play in the Golf Club of California Classic will begin at 7:30 AM (PST) on Friday morning. The tournament is open to the public and free of charge.