Darling, Hickson lead New England PGA

SUTTON, Mass. – Bob Darling and John Hickson knew their rounds Wednesday in the second round of the New England PGA Championship were nothing spectacular, but they served the purpose.

Darling and Hickson, one-two after the first round at Pleasant Valley, both shot even-par 72s Wednesday to remain atop the leaderboard.

Darling, of Lewiston, Maine, maintained his hold on first place at 5-under-par 139. Hickson, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, was a stroke back at 140.

Defending champion Kirk Hanefeld of Bolton fired a 1-under 71 and Mike San Filippo of Concord a 2-under 70 to finish the day at 3-under 141, two shots behind the leader.

Gary Young of Sutton, (73 on Wednesday), Allen Santos of Tewksbury (71), and Mike Baker of Bangor, Maine (72) were all at 2-under 142.

Frank Dully of Salem had the day’s lowest round at 4-under 68.

“The wind was from a different direction and it changed some of the shots,” Darling said. “(Tuesday) I hit 3-iron on 17 and had 170 to the green, today I hit a 3-wood and had 180 left to the green.

Darling bogeyed the first hole and the 10th, but offset those with birdies at 11 and 17.

Hickson struggled from the outset, with bogeys on two of the first three holes. He got one shot back with a birdie on No. 4 and got back to 4-under with a birdie on No. 7.