CAPE ELIZABETH – Matt Doyle’s idea of what constitutes a good round might be called into question based on his first two rounds of the 83rd Wendy’s Maine Open Golf Championship.

Doyle, a 24-year-old pro from West Simsbury, Conn., shot a 2-under-par 69 Thursday at Purpoodock Club, but thought that was better than the 6-under-par 64 he opened with Wednesday at Portland Country Club in Falmouth Foreside.

“Yesterday went so smooth,” said Doyle of his PCC round. “I was happier today. … I waited, stayed patient, and it came together at the end.”

It came together well enough for Doyle, a first-round co-leader, to stay tied for the lead. His 36-hole total of 133 matched the efforts of John Curley (66 Thursday) and Jim Gilleon (69).

Doyle, playing in Thursday’s afternoon round, was 2-over-par for the day after 12 holes and was in danger of falling out of touch with Curley, a pro playing out of Willowbend Country Club in Massachusetts, and Gilleon of Summerfield, Fla.

He rallied over the final five holes with two birdies and an eagle to maintain a spot atop the leader board.

Doyle, Gilleon, and Curley will play together in the last group, which will tee off at 11:40 a.m. today at Falmouth Country Club.

The cut to the low 40 and ties for today’s 18-hole finale was 4-over-par 145, the Maine pro cut was 150, and the amateur cut was 153.

Mike Worroll, the head pro at Purpoodock, and Mike Baker, the assistant pro at Bangor Municipal Golf Course, are tied for low Maine pro honors at 142, and 12-time Maine Amateur champion Mark Plummer of Manchester heads the amateurs at 145. Worroll posted a 68 Thursday, Baker a 67, and Plummer a 73.

Thursday’s round was played in sweltering heat, but it was something many of the players are used to because they play a lot in the warmer climes such as Florida and southern California. Doyle, while a Connecticut native, is one of them.

Doyle is a veteran of the Golden Bear Tour in Florida, a series of 16 events which runs from June through September.

“Down there, this is an average day,” said Doyle. “The temperature might be a little cooler, but the humidity is higher.

“Half a bucket [of practice balls] and you’re done with your glove and your clothes are dripping.”

Doyle decided to play in New England this year, including the New England Pro Tour, for two reasons.

“I get to work on my game with my father [Ken] and I’m near home,” said Doyle.

Doyle had to work hard Thursday, especially on his putts.

“These are some of the hardest [toughest] greens I’ve ever seen,” said Doyle, comparing them to the tricky and fast ones at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

When he turned in his scorecard, he said, “If I ever get to the Masters, I’m going to come up here to practice.”

The fact Curley shot 66 impressed Doyle.

“Sixty-six today would be like a 62 yesterday,” said Doyle. “That’s how I rate it.”

Doyle, All-Big Ten as a freshman at Minnesota, is a long hitter, and that would haunt him Thursday.

“This would be a great course for a junior golfer to grow up on because he would have to learn where to put the ball,” said Doyle, who works with the juniors at Hop Meadow Country Club where his father is the head pro.

Doyle had to learn as he played, something he had a little trouble with.

“I drove the 10th green,” said Doyle of the 340-yard, dogleg right par 4. “I don’t think I would have done that if [his father] was here.”

Despite being only 30 feet from the pin, actually just off the green, he only made par.

On the other hand, No. 14 was driveable, too, he said, but he didn’t try.

“I hit 6-iron, 9-iron and made birdie,” said Doyle.

That started his string finish, which included sinking a 6-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 16th and making a 15-foot putt for birdie on 18.

“I’ve done a good job this week,” said Doyle. “I feel comfortable. I feel like I’m at home with friends.”

He plans on staying that way in today’s run for the $5,000 top prize.

“I don’t feel a lot of pressure,” he said. “I’m just trying to have a good time.”