KANNAPOLIS — The strong field of 152 golfers was narrowed to 63 here Wednesday in the second round of the 54th annual North Carolina Open at The Club at Irish Creek.

The event, which started on Tuesday with some of the top golfers from North and South Carolina, had a cutline of 6-over 146, to qualify for today’s third and final round.

Patrick Cover of Cornelius, who shared the first-round lead, took over the top spot by himself on Wednesday, firing a 3-under par 67, for a two-round total of 133 (7-under).

Tommy Gibson of Mt. Airy, Will Stewart of Charlotte and Cory Schneider of Powells Point, are tied for second place at 136.

The top Rowan County golfer continues to be Michael Childress, of Salisbury. Childress, tied for 21st after the first round, is now in an eight-way tie for 20th at 141. On Wednesday, Childress, who will be a freshman at Richmond this fall, shot a 1-over par 71.

Concord’s Walker Cress, who was tied with Childress on Tuesday, shot a 2-under par 68 yesterday to jump up to eighth place at 138.

Stephen Carroll, also of Concord, is tied for 42nd after two straight 72s.

Several other local golfers missed the cut: Davis Richards, of South Rowan and N.C. State (74-75); Parker Chavis, of South Rowan and Cape Fear Community College (75-72); Logan Shuping, of East Rowan and East Carolina (77-72); and Andrew Morgan of China Grove (81-75).