For Mike Heinen and Greg Sonnier, Friday's second round of the $525,000 Chitimacha Louisiana Open was a lot like the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Survive and advance.

Both former UL All-Americans improved on their Thursday opening rounds in a big way - Sonnier bettering his first round by nine strokes - and survived the 1-over-par cut. Both will play over the weekend and will go into today's play eight strokes behind another player with local ties, Chris Riley, in the chase for the tournament-record $94,500 first prize.

Heinen followed up his 2-over 73 on Thursday with a 3-under 68 that included five birdies, many of which came after tough holes in a roller-coaster round.

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