It was an early start for the golfers in the championship flight for the second round of the 29th Men’s City Championship Saturday at Ratliff Ranch Golf Links.

It also was a tougher golf course.

Even with hole locations in more challenging spots, Will Adams was able to vault his way to the top of the leaderboard.

Adams fashioned a 5-under-par 67 to turn a one-shot deficit to a two-shot lead over defending champion Parker Beaty (65-70—135). First round co-leader Blake Parks fell back to fifth place with a 73 and is 6-under-par for the tournament.

Adams was one of three golfers to shoot in the 60s and just one of five to finish under par compared to seven on Friday.

“Honestly, I really didn’t put myself in trouble at all,” Adams said. “I hit a lot of good golf shots and made a few putts. I felt like I played better than 67 but I’m not complaining about a 67.”

One of those good shots came on the Par 4 14th hole where he chipped in for birdie. That was his final birdie of the day and capped off a run of three birdies in five holes on the back nine.

“I hit such a good golf shot on that hole and it was just unfortunate that it landed in the fringe,” Adams said. “I told Blake and Parker that I was due for a chip-in. It wasn’t a hard chip and finally landed one on the spot and let it roll in.”

While Adams was able to take the lead, a pair of Odessa College golfers made up the most ground.

Sang Ha Park and Sebastian Cruz, playing in groups behind the leaders, both matched Adams for the low round of the day.

Park (69-67—136) is three shots back , with Cruz (70-67—137) four shots back.

“I definitely putted a lot better today,” Cruz said. “I also took advantage of two of the par fives with birdies after going even on all four of those yesterday. I’m right there in the red with those guys.”

Park got off to a strong start by making birdies on three of first four holes to start the round. After falling back to 1-under par entering the 13th hole, Park turned his day around with an eagle on 13 and birdies on 16 and 18.

“I was struggling with my iron play,” Park said. “I was just trying to swing too hard with my arms. On the back nine, I just focused on swinging like normal and it worked well.”

The strong finish will put Park, who is playing in his first city championship, in the final group on Sunday with Beaty and Adams.

He said that he’s enjoyed going against some of his teammates during the tournament but will be focused on staying patient during the final round.

“The most important thing for me is to try and not focus on others,” he said. “I just want to play my own game.”

Cruz will be playing in the penultimate group with Parks and Jaden Chavez (69-71—140) and is taking a similar approach.

“It sounds cliché but I’m just focused on hitting fairways and greens and just capitalizing on the par fives,” he said. “If I don’t make too many mistakes, I’ll be right there with them.

>> SENIOR FLIGHTS: Danny Wyatt followed his opening round of 76 with a 79 Saturday to maintain his lead of the Senior Flight. He holds a two-shot lead over Tony Mullins (79-78—157) and leads by five over Chuck Lee (79-81—160).

In the Super Senior Flight, Rick Sutherland extended his lead to five shots after shooting a 75 for a two-day total of 153. Gary Bittick is second (80-78—158) followed by Manny Minjarez (83-81—164) in third place.

>> Follow Tony Venegas on Twitter at @OA_TVenegas

29th Men’s City Championship

Friday-Saturday, Ratliff Ranch Golf Links

Championship Flight

1. Will Adams, 66-67—133; 2. Parker Beaty, 65-70—135; 3. Sang Ha Park, 69-67—136; 4. Sebastian Cruz, 70-67—137; 5. Blake Parks, 65-73—138; 6. Jaden Chavez, 69-71—140; 7. (tie) Tyler Trotter, 73-74—147; Robby Massey, 72-75—147; and Austin Anderson, 69-78—147; 10. Luke Groves, 73-75—148; 11. Ciro Baeza, 72-77—147; 12. Kelby Bridges, 77-73—150; 13. Josh Hogan, 74-78—152; 14. Kevin Williams, 76-79—155; 15. Doug Bryant, 74-83—157; 16. Kade Young, 74-85—159; 17. Aaron Marquez, 79-84—163; 18. Matthew Munoz, 86-87—173.

Super Senior Flight

1. Rick Sutherland, 78-75—153; 2. Gary Bittick, 80-78—158; 3. Manny Minjarez, 83-81—164; 4. Robert Dickman, 87-82—169; 5. Mike Stewart, 84-92—176; 6. Augustine Moralez 90-88—178; 7. Gary Harmon, 89-90—179; 8. John Kren, 90-96—186; 9. Rene Marquez, 92-95—187; 10. Greg Hartsell, 94-94—188.

Senior Flight

1. Danny Wyatt, 76-79—155; 2. Tony Mullins, 79-78—157; 3. Chuck Lee, 79-81—160; 4. Richard Campbell, 77-86—163; 5. Mark Oliver, 83-85—168; 6. (tie) Gerald Sterger, 85-84—169; and Calvin Jackson, 78-91—169; 8. Ector Marin, 92-79—171; 9. (tie) Gregg Olberts, 86-86—172; and Randy Grive, 84-88—172; 11. Tommy Muncy, 89-94—173.

First Flight

1. Matias Patino, 76-72—148; 2. Santos Garza Jr., 76-73—149; 3. Aaron Richardson, 74-77—151; 4. Brian Cruz, 78-77—155; 5. James Munn, 74-82—156; 6. Scott Murdock, 77-80—157; 7. Christopher Adams, 80-80—160; 8. Robert Graham, 86-83—169; 9. Bryan Teeters, 84-86—170; 10. Mike Claburn, 80-91—171.

Second Flight

1. Rusty Welch, 76-77—153; 2. Eric Rodriguez, 77-83—160; 3. Arvey Villa, 81-80—161;4. Ivan Meraz, 81-83—164; 5. Steve Kemp, 82-83—165; 6. (tie) Marty Slaton, 82-84—166; and John McClellan, 84-82—166; 8. Roy Hernandez, 84-88—172; 9. Theo Navarrette, 93-85—178; 10. Omar Gonzales, 89-92—181.

Third Flight

1. Phil Carrasco, 70-80—150; 2. Bryan Altamirano, 78-86—164; 3. Cesar Bravo, 82-83—165; 4. Shane De Santiago, 89-83—172; 5. Larry Roberts, 87-86—173; 6. Frank Ordunez, 84-91—175; 7. Robert Lujan, 87-91—178; 8. (tie) Cho Yong, 93-87—180; and Jose Dominguez, 87-93—180; 10. Thomas Aguirre, 90-91—181.

Fourth Flight

1. Justin Dosier, 81-86—167; 2. Paul Anderson, 85-89—174; 3. Robert Courville, 88-91—179; 4. (tie) Gabriel Urias, 90-90—180; and Ronnie Gray, 91-89—180; 6. (tie) Fabian Urias, 90-96—186; and Mark Windham, 95-91—186; 8. Mike Bostick, 96-98—194; 9. Rick Pasrons, 102-93—195.

Fifth Flight

1. Jamie Williams, 87-84—171; 2. Luis Arzaga, 83-92—175; 3. Franklin Catron, 85-99—184; 4. Santos Moroles, 94-92—186; 5. Danny Bava, 97-94—191; 6. Tommy Shands, 97-101—198; 7. (tie) Jacob Henderson 110-94—204; and Jay Batherson, 98-106—204; 9. David Whitehead, 103-109—212.

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