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Victor, N.Y. – The second round of play got underway this morning in the 87th Men’s Amateur Championship. Ten players in the morning wave recorded rounds under par at Ravenwood G.C. Thomas Muto, Jr., of Sodus Bay Heights G.C., carded six birdies and an eagle on the par-4 2nd hole to match Bozzelli’s 6-under 66 performance yesterday to climb just two shots back of the lead.
Players began their round with the intention of improving upon their performance from yesterday; even Dominic Bozzelli, who posted the low-round at 6-under-par 66 yesterday. “My goal was to get to 10-under today,” says Bozzelli. “The pins were a little tougher today so you can’t be too aggressive. You need to know when to be aggressive and when not to out there.”
Muto, Jr. played aggressively from the start including an eagle on the par-4 2nd hole where nearly drove the green and was able to chip in for eagle. He birdied four out of his last six holes on the back nine for a momentum boost heading into tomorrow’s 36-hole final rounds. Muto, Jr. holed out a birdie from the greenside bunker on the par-3 17th hole.
Bozzelli, who plays out of Locust Hill C.C., started off the 10th tee with a birdie on the par-4 and finished his day with a birdie on the par-5 9th hole. He also birdied the par-4 2nd, which was a popular hole for scoring under par today with the pin location at the front of the green. Bozzelli pulled driver off the tee and landed his shot just shy of the fringe. He chipped past the flagstick on his second shot but was able to convert his birdie putt from 10 feet. Bozzelli was fighting to save par on numerous occasions after finding himself in trouble off the tee. On the par-5 18th hole, Bozzelli flew his tee shot past the bunkers that line the left side of the fairway to a tough lie in front of a tree which was just short of the hither. He followed with a remarkable second shot that landed pin-high but off to the left fringe. Bozzelli then missed long on his chip but two-putted to save par. “I think I had like 27 putts out there again so I am pleased with my putting,” says Bozzelli.
Kevin Kaye, of Wildwood C.C., posted his second straight round under-par for a two-day total of 142. He rattled off four straight pars on both the front nine and back nine for a consistent round that saw three birdies and two bogeys. He remains three strokes back of Muto, Jr. and five strokes behind Bozzelli who has a two-day total of 137.
The afternoon flight of players have all started their round with some groups beginning to make the turn. Results and a full recap will be posted later this evening.
Submitted by Kevin Solan
NYSGA Media Intern
Looks like you’re going to have a “shoot-out” with the former winners of the JPK Trophy.
Good luck Billy with the rest of the event.