SUMMIT, N.J. (June 4, 2012) - Despite an hour and 50 minute weather delay, PGA Tour pro Marc Turnesa and reigning NJPGA Player of the Year Brian Gaffney were able to get off to hot starts, firing 4-under 68s on Canoe Brook's North Course to share the 18-hole lead at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J.  Turnesa, a 2008 winner on the PGA Tour, is looking to return to his second consecutive U.S. Open while Gaffney, of Rumson, N.J., is looking to for his first Open appearance. 

Lightning and heavy rain disrupted the middle of most players' rounds during the morning, but with more receptive greens, eight players were able to record sub-par rounds. Mark McCormick of Morristown, N.J., the elder McCormick in the field, shot a 3-under 67 on the South and is alone in third.  His son Ryan McCormick, a member of the St. John's University men's golf team, didn't fare as well and finished with a 2-over 74 on the North.  Barry University freshman John Yu of Fresh Meadows, N.Y. was the low amateur of the morning flight with a 2-under 68 on the South and is T4 with 2010 Nationwide Tour winner Jim Herman of Palm City, Fla. 

Nationwide Tour pro Andrew Svoboda went out on the South with a scorching 31 (5-under) but came in with 38 (4-over) to finish T6 with a 69. Also T6 is amateur Mathieu Perron of Saint-Hubert, Quebec, and Rich Berberian of Derry, N.H.

The four players with the lowest 36-hole total scores will advance to the U.S. Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif.