Brandon Wu posted 63 to medal at his U.S. Open local in May (NCGA)
LEWISTON, New York (July 20, 2017) -- A four-hour rain delay didn’t affect
Brandon Wu or
Cristian DiMarco on day two of The Porter Cup. The pair was patient, waited out the weather, and then poured in a barrage of birdies once Mother Nature let them play.
Around 11:17 a.m. EST play was suspended when some nasty clouds rolled in. Play didn’t resume at Niagara Falls Country Club until 3:30 p.m. EST with the final groups putting into the early evening.
Once the second round was in the books, there was a logjam at the top. Firing a 4-under 66, to follow an opening round 68, Brandon Wu took the lead. Nipping at his heels – one shot back at -5 are: DiMarco, and first-round co-leaders: Christopher Petefish and Travis Smyth.
Wu, the Stanford golfer from Scarsdale, New York, had five birdies and a lone bogey. Earlier this year he posted a 63 at Yocha Deche in Northern California at U.S. Open local qualifying. This could be his tournament to win.
DiMarco, from Winter Park, FL. shot 4-under on the back side, to go with a 1-under on the opening nine. His 65 (5-under) was not only the low round of the day, but also the low round of the tournament so far. The Floridians’ birdie barrage vaulted him nine spots up the leaderboard.
DiMarco's father, Chris is a three-time winner on the PGA Tour and a three-time runner-up in major championships. And it was like father/like son earlier this month in Florida, as Cristian won the Florida Amateur title.
After two rounds, Luke Moser of Waterloo, Ont., is the top Canadian; Moser followed an even-par opening round with a -1 under on day two — leaving him T7 with Texan Wes Artac.
After a tidy 66 (-4) in the opening round, which left him tied atop the leaderboard, defending champion Harrison Endycott retreated with a 71 (+1) in round 2. The Australian is still in a good position heading to moving day, just three shots back.
A highlight of the second round saw Daniel Hudson, of Western Springs, Ill., notch an ace on the Par 3 fourth hole using a 6-iron from 186 yards. After an even par opening round, Hudson finished 1-over on Thursday; he heads into round three T13 Canadian Garrett Rank (who has won the past three Canadian Mid-Amateur Championships and is an NHL referee) shot one over in round two — leaving him T13 with Hudson and Argentinean Jaime Lopez Rivarola at 1-over for the tournament.
ABOUT THE
Porter Cup
One of the premier amateur events in the
nation, this 72-hole stroke play invitational has
lots of extra activities that give this event a special
flavor. The winning player receives a green blazer, as
well as an invitation to the Master of the Amateurs
tournament in Melbourne, Australia. Pre-tournament
qualifying is a few weeks prior to the
event and approximately five spots are available.
Starting in 2023, the men's and women's
Porter Cup championships are run concurrently with
54 players in each field and alternating
tee times. It's been exciting seeing the top players in each division in final pairings on the par-3 18th hole at Niagara Falls CC, with large galleries always appreciative of the rising talent.
View Complete Tournament Information