One Canadian replaced another at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Gosling’s Invitational at Belmont Hills yesterday after Danny King, the first day leader, lost his edge to shoot an eight-over-par 78.

King was the man to catch after his impressive 58 on Monday, but yesterday’s round enabled David Wettlaufer to take over first place by eight strokes after he carded a four-under 66 to go with his opening round 62.

He will take a two-day total of 128 into today’s third round which switches to Port Royal for the first time in the tournament’s history.

King, who finished in a tie for second last year, will be hoping a change of course for the final two rounds will also improve his fortunes as he sits eight strokes off the lead, tied for second with Danny Mijovic on 136 after he carded a 66 to go with his opening 70.

Mijovic was one of four players in the top ten to improve their score yesterday.

Local pair Brian Morris and Daniel Augustus both moved up the board after their rounds of 70 and 69, with Morris tied for fifth on 141 with Zach Byrd while Augustus is a stroke back, one of six players tied for seventh place.

Nick Jones, of Bermuda, is also in that bunch, after his 72 on day two. Kirk Hanefeld sits alone in fourth place on 139 after his round of 70 yesterday.

Brian McCann, the defending champion, lost his chance to defend his title after he slipped 16 strokes behind the leader after a round of four-over 75 which leaves him tied for sixteenth, one of three players on 144.

The tournament in entering the critical final two rounds today with Wettlaufer, Mijovic and King teeing off at 11.03am in the final group.

Just ahead of them will be Morris, Byrd and Hanefeld, all battling to make a move ahead of tomorrow’s final round at Port Royal. Augustus will play alongside Joe Horowitz and Matthew Sita, leaving at 10.45am, with Jones in a 10.36am threesome also including Nick Johnson and Cody Martin.

In the amateurs, Adam Petty leads the net division with a two-day score of 138, with Luis Gerardo and Henry Arundale tied for second on 146. Arundale is also second in the gross, eight strokes behind leader Damian Palanyandi on 148.

Hav Trott leads the seniors with a two-day gross score of 144 after two rounds of 72, while Glenn Kelly is six strokes back in second place on 150, after shooting 80 yesterday.