Gene Elliott finished third in last years Jones Cup Senior Invitational
(USGA Photo)
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA (March 6, 2018) - Two of the best senior players in the country put on a show in the second round of the Jones Cup Senior Invitational. Gene Elliott carded a 4-under 66 to move into first place at 6-under while defending champion Walter Todd fired the round of the tournament, a 6-under 64, to go from 2-over to 4-under and second place just two back.
Playing at the Sea Island Golf Club Seaside Course Elliott began the day at 2-under and one shot back before getting off to a blistering start. The second-ranked player in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings when last year ended, Elliott played the first seven holes in 3-under as he birdies Nos. 1, 6 and 7 to reach 5-under for the tournament. Looking for more Elliott then carded 10th and 11th hole birdie before giving one stroke back with a bogey down the stretch.
Elliott, a winner four-times last year, is looking to improve on a third place finish last year in the Jones Cup Senior Invitational.
Defending champion Walter Todd was five back when the day began but thanks to his lights out round he is now just two behind. Todd began his charge with a birdie on the 2nd, the first of his seven, against just one bogey. For Todd his birdies on Tuesday came in bunches with four coming in a five hole stretch from Nos. 2-6 while the other three came between Nos. 14-17.
Mark Nickerson is in third at 3-under, the 1-under David Nelson is fourth while in fifth it is Jack Larkin and Tommy Brennan at even-par.
Of note Doug Hanzel is sharing seventh at 1-over along with first round co-leader Grady Brame while the other first round co-leader Emile Vaughan is 4-over in a tie for 13th.
SUPER SENIOR DIVISION
The Super Senior lead belongs to Pete Allen who is 5-over, two back in a share for second are Dick Van Leuvan and Evan Long at 7-over, Bob Casamento is fourth at 8-over and three others are fifth with a 9-over tally.
ROUND ONE RECAP
With one day in the books at the Jones Cup Senior Invitational the leaderboard is tight. Currently it is Emile Vaughan and Grady Brame at 3-under pacing the field but there are 21 players within five shots of the lead with still two rounds remaining at Sea Island Golf Club Seaside Course.
Vaughan, who finished fourth in the 2014 Jones Cup Senior, carded his 3-under 67 with the aid of five birdies and two bogeys. Coming off a 23rd place finish last year Vaughan birdied No. 1 and then added a second bird on the 5th to get off to a quick 2-under start. Vaughan continued to play steady golf moving to 3-under with a birdie on the 11th only to slide back to 2-under briefly with a 14th hole bogey.
Unfazed Vaughan bounced back with birdies on each of the next two holes to get as low as 4-under before giving one last stroke back with a closing hole bogey.
Grady Brame had a little bit cleaner of a scorecard rolling in four birdies and only one bogey. Brame carded his birdies on Nos. 1, 9, 15 and 17 with his bogeying coming on the 16th.
Last year Brame had a strong year in AmateurGolf.com Senior Ranking events earning three top-five finishes including a fourth place showing at the Jones Cup Senior Invitational.
Lurking one shot back is Gene Elliott at 2-under in third while Jonathan Valuck, Mark Knecht and Mark Nickerson share fourth at 1-under.
Defending champion Walter Todd is five back and in tie for 14th following a 2-over 74.
SUPER SENIOR DIVISION
In the Super Senior Division a trio of 2-over players share the lead; Don Marsh, Don Russell and Frank Wrenn.
Sitting in fourth one shot back at 3-over is Bob Casamento with five others in a share of fourth at 4-over.
ABOUT THE Jones Cup Senior
54-hole senior invitational event inaugurated
in 2012, that follows in the footsteps of the
Jones Cup, an event that unofficially kicks off
the amateur circuit each year.
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