Billy Wingerd (photo courtesy of MSGA)

Bart Mease, from Manor CC, who finished third in this tournament three years ago, and who began the day tied with Wingerd and Andrew Kolarik (University of Maryland GC), finished 68-71–139, followed by Mike Stackus (Hobbit’s Glen GC), and Brandon Cigna (Manor CC) at 141. Kolarik, who led early in the round, finished with a 74 for a 142 total.

Wingerd, 34, could point to two key holes in getting the lead. He collected a birdie at the ninth when he reached the green of the 512-yard hole in two and two-putted, and at the 509-yard 10th where he hit hybrid, 6-iron to 12 feet and — for the second day in a row at the same hole — sank an eagle putt. When Wingerd birdied 12 from eight feet, he topped Mease (who had birdied 10-11) by three and Kolarik by four. There were no birdies in the group the rest of the way.

Mease, 40, winner of the recent Washington Metropolitan Amateur, was within one of the lead when Wingerd made two bogeys, but a Mease bogey at the 17th left him two behind.

“The birdie at 9 brought me back, and on the last nine, I started hitting better shots,” Wingerd said. He had previously won the MSGA Amateur (2004), Open (2007, at Chartwell), and Public Links (2017, when he posted 64-66–130 at Clustered Spires GC in Frederick).

Two birdies in the first five holes had sent Kolarik ahead, and he and Wingerd were tied after nine, but they soon went in opposite directions.

Notes — Mike Steinhardt, from Hayfields CC, made the third hole-in-one of his career when he struck a 7-iron shot at the 161-yard 11th hole. . .Robert Lindstrom had the low round of the tournament when he closed with 67 to tie Kolarik at 142…Cigna hit driver, 6-iron to 10 feet to set up his eagle at the 10th hole.

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