Ideal weather conditions paved the way for impressive scores during the second round of the 109th Southwestern Amateur at Desert Mountain’s Outlaw Golf Course.
Women’s Division: Nicola Kaminski of Los Gatos, California, surged into the lead with a two-day total of 8-under-par. She followed her opening 69 with a stellar 67, featuring six birdies and just one bogey. “I feel good about my game. I was pretty comfortable. My patience was tested at the beginning because I couldn’t get putts to drop, but I just had to stay patient and trust that God had a plan for my round,” said Kaminski, who attends San Jose State.
Madelyn Gamble from Pleasant Hill, California, sits one stroke back in second place after a roller-coaster round of 69, which included seven birdies and four bogeys. “I wanted to be committed and decisive while I was playing. I wanted to keep it simple because that’s something I’ve worked on throughout the college season and in the summer as well,” Gamble shared. Gamble is a golfer at Washington State.
Taiwan’s Yu-Chu Chen and Lauren Gomez from Murrieta, California, are tied for third at 6-under, two strokes behind Kaminski. Gomez plays golf for Pepperdine. McKenzi Hall from Las Vegas, Nevada and Molly Smith from Westford, Massachusetts, are both three strokes off the lead at 5-under. Hall, a UNLV golfer, posted a strong 67 today, positioning herself well for the final two days. “I told myself to stay patient. Yesterday some of my shots weren’t falling and it was frustrating. I told myself the shots would fall and then I started to make putts,” Hall commented.
Smith, who attends UCF, noted, “I feel that overall I am hitting it pretty well and I am managing my game pretty well around this course.”
Ashley Menne, an ASU graduate and Surprise, Arizona native, shot the low round of the day with a 6-under 66, putting herself back in contention. “It feels great to be back at the tournament. I always enjoy playing the Southwestern. I love supporting Arizona golf and it’s a great course,” Menne said.
A total of 40 women made the cut at +3 or better.
Men’s Division: In the men’s division, Brandon Robison from Centerville, Utah (pictured at top), and Johnny Walker from Chandler, Arizona, are tied for the lead at 7-under-par. Walker, a University of Arizona golfer, reflected on his day, saying, “I was the last tee time off yesterday and the first one off today, so I pretty much went with the flow. There was not a break in between. The weather is more in my favor because I am used to it. It’s me and the course, don’t worry about other people.”
James Roller from Jenks, Oklahoma, Jack Dozer from Phoenix, Arizona, Ethan Wilson from Canada, and Hunter Swanson from Denver, Colorado, are just one stroke behind at 6-under. Swanson, who plays for Colorado, recorded the low round of the day with a superb 65. “Yesterday I felt like I left a lot out there, the longest putt I made was a three footer. Today I wanted to make a putt outside of three feet and I did it pretty early,” Swanson noted.
A total of 42 men made the cut at even par or better.
The third round of the tournament continues on Friday with the women’s division starting at 7:30 AM and the men’s division at 8:33 AM.