Chase Hanna leads by one after two rounds at Desert Mountain
(University of Kansas photo)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ (June 15, 2017) -
Chase Hanna of Kansas City, KS, who just finished his college career at the University of Kansas, shot a three-under 67 on the Geronimo Course at the Desert Mountain Club to take the halfway lead at the 102nd Southwestern Amateur.
Hanna entered the day two shots behind after an opening five-under 65 on the Cochise Course at Desert Mountain. His round of 67 on the Geronimo was bogey-free and allowed him to take the lead by one shot over Quade Cummins of Weatherford, OK and Jino Sohn of Honolulu, HI.
“My 67 today was a little deceiving,” Hanna said, “considering I did not play the par fives very well. While I did play a bogey-free round, I did not putt as well as I did yesterday, but my ball-striking was still pretty solid with birdies on holes, 15, 3 and 9. Hopefully, I can keep it going for the next two days.”
Cummins, who was a redshirt freshman this past season for the national champion University of Oklahoma Sooners, was the first-round leader after a course-record-setting 63 on the Geronimo Course. On the Cochise Course, Cummins had three birdies and three bogeys for an even-par 70.
Cummins said his second round “was really a little spotty. I had to work hard today to hit fairways and greens, and I just did not hit it close enough to make many putts. It wasn’t a great ball-striking round, but I am most definitely still in the golf tournament with a good chance to win if I can put two good rounds together on Friday and Saturday.”
Sohn, who just finished his sophomore year at Arizona State University, followed an opening 67 with a 66 on the Cochise Course. Sohn was even par for the round and had just suffered a double bogey on the twelfth hole when he kicked it into gear, finishing with two birdies and an eagle on the last hole.
Despite the finish, Sohn said he was “a little disappointed in my round, since I made five birdies (on holes 6, 7, 9, 13 and 15) and an eagle (18), but I gave strokes back with a bogey on eight and a double bogey on 12. Those two hiccups prevented me from going really low.”
Fresno, CA golfers Peter Kuest and Blake Hathcoat sit tied for fourth at five-under 135. Colin Prater of Colorado Springs, CO and Kyle Suppa of Honolulu, HI, who had a hole-in-one in the opening round, are tied for sixth at four under.
It's a crowded leaderboard heading into the third round. In all, 19 players are under par for the tournament.
The cut fell at four-over 144, with 68 players advancing to the final two rounds.
The shot of the day was hit by Yash Majmudar of Singapore, who aced the 172-yard ninth hole at the Geronimo Course using an eight iron.
ABOUT THE
Southwestern Amateur
72-hole stroke play championship for national-level
amateurs with a handicap index of
1.4 or better. After 36 holes, the field will be
cut to the low 36 and ties. The
SWGA Selection Committee will select players
to
compete based upon
exemptions, playing resume and rankings.
The SWGA reserves the right to invite
amateurs of national and international
reputation, as well as other amateurs "of
note", to enter into the tournament.
Applicants are urged to submit their entries
with golf resumes of accomplishment in
major tournaments and other competitive
record
information.
View Complete Tournament Information