Joe Alfieri

Connors shot the low round of the tournament on Saturday to move into a first place tie. The Palm Beach Gardens resident was an afterthought when the day began after an opening day 1-over 73. However, in round two he flipped the script and shot the low round of the tournament, a bogey-free 6-under 66.

On his first hole today Connors set the tone for his round with a birdie. He then went on to birdie holes 4, 14 and 15. His highlight came on No. 8 when Connors eagled the 548 yard par-5.

Alfieri, the 2013 Florida Mid-Amateur champion, followed up his 5-under 67 first round with an even-par 72 on day two. The first round leader by three-strokes had three birdies and three bogeys in the second round.

Connors and Alfieri are the only players in the field under-par and they lead a group five players tied for third at even-par.

ROUND ONE RECAP

2013 Florida Mid-Amateur champion Joe Alfieri is the first round leader of the 2016 edition being played at TPC Eagle Trace. Alfieri fired an opening round 5-under 67 and leads by three-strokes over four players tied for second at 2-under.

Alfieri shot a modest 1-under 35 on his first nine holes with two birdies and a bogey. However, once Alfieri made the turn he kicked his round into high gear with three straight birdies on holes 11, 12 and 13. Following a pair of pars Alfieri carded two more birdies on holes 16 and 17. Despite an 18th hole bogey Alfieri still shot an impressive 4-under 32 on the back nine.

The second place quartet at 2-under includes Thomas Parker, Marc Dull, Ryan Cobb and Marc France. Three others - Kyle Nathan, Daniel Eggertsson and Carl Santos-Ocampo - are tied for sixth and four behind at 1-under-par.