Lake Wylie, SC – Through 36 holes of the eGolf Tour's River Hills Classic, the story to be told is one of yesteryear. Longtime tour players Tommy Biershenk and Matt Cannon stand at Nos. 1 and 2 atop a stacked leaderboard chasing down a share of the event's $235,000 purse. While new players come and go and college kids are replaced by new college kids, it's often times the veterans who pose the biggest threat to the title in eGolf Tour events. It sounds like 2005, but it's actually 2010: Biershenk leads Cannon by one with just 36 holes to play.

Biershenk, 36, entered this week's River Hills Classic following three consecutive missed cuts and riding a bleak outlook for the 2010 season. A first-round 67 at tournament co-host Palisades Country Club on Wednesday put the former Clemson Tiger standout in good position through 18 holes, trailing overnight leader Alex Hamilton by a single shot.

On Thursday afternoon at host River Hills Country Club, Biershenk kept a hot putter going with five birdies and a lone bogey, good for a second-round 68. His 9-under 135 total provided him with a one-shot cushion over Cannon – the tour's all-time leading money winner.

For Biershenk, tough times have set in on a once-promising career that took him to the Nationwide Tour and to two eGolf Tour titles since 2005. The Boiling Springs, SC native has long been one of the most talented players around, but talent only goes so far. At times, in golf, finances can supersede talent when gauging whether or not a player makes it.

"My back is against the wall right now, I'm almost out of money," said Biershenk in a matter-of-fact tone following his round. "It's just tough."

With a sliver of hope left and even less in his wallet, Biershenk entered the week with the idea of changing his outlook and his attitude.

So far, so good.

"I decided that I needed to come into the golf tournament with an attitude of ‘I'm going to win,' not just try to make the cut," Biershenk said. "Obviously my confidence has been down with the scores I've posted this year, but I feel like I've got it in me."

Married with two kids, Biershenk has spent time between tournaments this year working on a friend's farm to try to help float expenses. Scraping by and chasing dreams ironically reminds him of his time on the more lucrative Nationwide Tour, where fellow traveling partners would rise to the occasion when no other options were left.

"It's funny how things work out that way. I traveled with Chris Couch and several other Nationwide Tour guys, and when their backs were against the wall, they did the same thing," said Biershenk, who played the Nationwide Tour full time from 2000-2003. "I think it puts that extra pressure on you, as if to say, ‘Look, you need to play well or your golf career is over.'"

In 2005, Biershenk won the tour's Kannapolis Classic after entering the week with little to no money left. His only way to get into PGA TOUR Q-School later that fall was to win the tournament.

"Things are looking up for me, I feel more like I used to feel in terms of my confidence," said Biershenk. "I know I'm ‘this close' to playing good again – I just have to keep my head held high."

Biershenk is the first to admit that his putting has left a lot to be desired this year, but it has turned into a strength this week in Lake Wylie, SC.

"I've been working hard on my putting, it has been really bad. Bad putting puts a lot of pressure on your short game," said Biershenk, who has navigated 36 holes this week without a single three putt.

Matt CannonCannon, who has amassed 16 wins in his eGolf Tour career, is back for 2010 after spending the majority of 2009 as a general contractor.

The former Old Dominion University golfer began his tournament with a 2-over 38 at River Hills on Wednesday, but has since played bogey-free golf to the tune of 10-under par. Cannon's second-round 66 at The Palisades marked his lowest score of the season, and he is playing in just his third event since notching a runner-up finish at the season-opening Palmetto Hall Championship.

Cannon spent most of the early 2000's dominating mini-tour golf on every level – especially the eGolf Tour. Laid back and affable to a fault, Cannon led the tour's money list in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007, and appears ready to return to the winner's circle this week.

Greg Pieczynski, Chris Baker and 2008 leading money winner David Robinson are tied for third at 7-under 137, two shots behind Biershenk.

The rounds of the day came from eGolf Tour winner Clint Jensen and 2003 PGA TOUR Kemper Open winner Grant Waite. Both players carded rounds of 8-under 64 at The Palisades on Thursday and vaulted from outside the cut line into the weekend.

While Biershenk admits that times are tough, he also sticks to that raw sense of humor laced with a bit of confidence that is native to the South. When asked if he likes his chances, a wry grin came over his face that more than answered the question.

"I'm very comfortable in this position because I know I'm a good player, I just have to get out of my own way."

The third round will begin at 8:00 AM on Friday morning at River Hills Country Club, with players teeing off in threesomes off of Nos. 1 and 10. The tournament is open to the public and free of charge.

• The tour's cut policy is written as follows: For each 72-hole event in the regular season, the field will be cut to the low 35 percent of the field and ties. If that number results in more than 78 players making the cut, the field for the final two rounds will be reduced to the number of players nearest to 71, even if that number is less than 71. All players who make the cut, but do not play the final two rounds, will share the money from the cut off through last place. In turn, all players at even-par 144 or better will play the final 36 holes. Players who finished 36 holes at 1-over 145 will split 71st place on the purse and will be credited with a made cut. All money earned is official.

River Hills Classic

River Hills Country Club

Par 72; 6,704 yards

Palisades Country Club

Par 72; 6,797 yards

Second-Round Results

MDF = Made cut, did not finish.