Jim Rutledge made a strong move up the leader-board in the second round of Champions Tour Qualifying School on Wednesday.
The Victoria native turned in a nifty 4-under 68 to move into a tie for fourth place with just five full privilege cards available at the TPC Eagle Trace course in Coral Springs, Florida.
Rutledge and P.H. Horgan III, both of whom finished in the top five at last year's qualifying tournament, moved up a staggering 17 places after the second of four rounds.
Rutledge, at 4-under 140, sits three shots behind co-leaders Gene Jones and Bobby Clampett. Jeff Brehaut is one shot back of the leaders at 138.
Meanwhile, at PGA Tour Q-school, former UVic Vikes golfer Mitch Evanecz stormed in with an opening 6-under 66 at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murietta, California, to sit in a tie for second, one shot back of American Danny Lee.
A total of 19 spots and ties are available in the second stage of qualifying.
If not for a bogey on the 16th hole, Evanecz - who originally hails from Red Deer, Alta., but is now calling Victoria home - would have had a share of the lead.
Nick Taylor of Abbotsford is tied for 24th after a 1-under 71 and Stuart Anderson of Sooke is tied for 34th - along with the likes of former PGA players Jeff Quinney and Duffy Waldorf - after an even-par 72.
Anderson, starting on the back nine, bogeyed his first hole but came back with birdies on three of his next five holes. Bogeys at Nos. 16, 2 and 4 brought him back to the pack.
The four-round event continues today.
