Rodriguez has ace, leads Nova Scotia Open

Jose de Jesus Rodriguez's (Berardi/PGA TOUR)

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Rodriguez had a hole-in-one and another eagle Thursday in the Web.com Tour’s Nova Scotia Open en route to an 8-under 63 and a two-stroke lead.

Rodriguez holed a 9-iron from 166 yards on No. 5, and made a 30-yard chip for eagle on the par-5 17th.

“I hit it very good and I had a lot of opportunities,” Rodriguez said. “In the last tournament I hit it very good, but I didn’t make the putts. Today, I made the putts.”

David Skinns, James Sacheck and Aaron Goldberg shot 65, and Canadian Adam Hadwin, the Chile Classic winner in March, was another stroke back along with Henrik Norlander.

Hadwin had a bogey-free round.

“I didn’t struggle all day,” the Abbotsford, B.C native said. “I burned a few edges and had tap-ins for pars.”

Hadwin finished the day 5th, while Merrit, B.C.’s Roger Sloan finished the day tied for 7th after a 67.

The event is the first Web.com Tour event to be held in Canada.