Second round co-leader Travis Trace
(North Florida Athletics Photo)
NAPLES, FL (May 6, 2017) - With one round remaining at the Terra Cotta Invitational the lead is being shared by Walker Lee and Travis Trace, both of whom sit at 1-under. Playing at Naples National Golf Club, the leaders will carry a one-stroke lead into Sunday's final round.
Travis Trace, a sophomore at North Florida, began the day in a three-way tie for the lead and he ended the day atop the leaderboard as well following an even-par 72 in the second round. During Saturday play Trace played a fairly steady round with three birdies and three bogeys. His birdies came on Nos. 2, 10 and 14.
Texas A&M commit Walker Lee moved into a share of the lead thanks to a second round 4-under 68 that was seven shots better than his first round 75. Lee, 3-over to start the day, began his move early with three straight birdies on Nos. 2-4 before carding additional birdies on the 15th and 18th holes.
The final birdie offset Walker's lone bogey of the round on the 17th hole.
Chris Nido and Kaito Onishi are tied for third at even-par and just one shot off the pace while in a tie for fifth at 1-over it is first round co-leader Philip Knowles, John Pak, Reese Ramsey and Shiso Go.
The third member of the lead following the first round, James Yoon, is tied for 12th at 3-over.
Heading into the final round 17 players are 3-over or better and they are all still very much in the mix.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Things are tight after the first round of the Terra Cotta Invitational at Naples National Golf Club. Not only are three players sharing the lead at 1-under, but 29 players are 3-over or better and within four shots of the lead.
The group tied for the lead following 1-under 71's is comprised of Philip Knowles, Travis Trace and James Yoon.
Knowles, a sophomore at North Florida, was 1-over after the first nine holes before putting together a flawless second nine 2-under 34. The homeward nine birdies for the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman team member came on Nos. 11 and 15.
Travis Trace, a sophomore at North Florida as well, had two very different nine holes during his first round. Beginning on the 10th hole, Trace birdied his opening hole and overall four of his first seven holes to sprint out to 4-under start.
However, as easily as things came for Trace on the front nine it was that difficult on his second nine. Trace bogeyed the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th holes but thanks to a birdie on the 7th hole he was able to sign for an under-par round.
James Yoon, the final member of the lead group started on the front side and birdied five holes and bogeyed four. His best stretch of golf came from Nos. 5-7 when be birdied all three in a row.
Four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur winner Nathan Smith is tied for fourth place with Chris Nido and Fred Biondi at even-par while six others are tied for seventh at 1-over.
ABOUT THE
Terra Cotta Invitational
54-hole stroke play tournament with no cut.
Caddies are required. A Sponsor/Contestant
tournament is held before the event.
The Terra Cotta is an invitational. However,
they do
encourage applications and players can submit
their
golf resume for consideration.
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