"I guess I kind of got it going today," Summy said with a smile as he walked to the scoring area. "The putter was putting, and I just hit it close on a lot. I knew where I was at, and it was tough coming down the stretch, but it was a special round that I'm going to remember, for sure."

His lap around Alex "Nipper" Campbell's Miami Valley masterpiece was 10 strokes better than his first-round 72. He made 10 birdies and one bogey, highlighted by a par save from the deep native grass right of the fairway on No. 9, his closing hole.

"I lost my tee shot in the air going right and heard it hit timber," Summy said. "I wouldn't have found it if the spotter didn't, so being able to hit it on the green from there was great. That shot will stay with me."

James recorded his second consecutive bogey-free round. This is his first time making the 36-hole cut in three Western Amateur appearances.

"I had some holes where I probably should've made bogeys, but also some holes where good birdie looks didn't go in; that's just golf," James said. I just need to stick to my game plan, and if it works, it works."

Gilligan, also in third at 8-under, made six birdies and an eagle on the 479-yard, par-4 18th, holing out with a pitching wedge from 155 yards.

The 36-hole cut came at 1-under par, with 54 players advancing to play the final 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying on Thursday to decide who will advance to match play. Third-round tee times will begin at 7:30 a.m., with the fourth round scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.

First played at Glen View Club in 1899, the Western Amateur is the world’s third-oldest amateur championship, behind only the British Amateur (1885) and the U.S. Amateur (1895). It regularly attracts the top players from across the country and around the world, with past champions like Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

A grueling combination of stroke play and match play makes the Western Amateur one of the most demanding events in golf. The field of 156 players compete in 72 holes of stroke play over three days to determine the Sweet 16 for match play.

Live, exclusive coverage of match play will stream on ESPN+, with more than 12 hours of coverage over Friday, Aug. 2, and Saturday, Aug. 3. ESPN+ subscribers in the United States, Canada (TSN+), the Caribbean and Latin America (on Disney+) can tune in on the ESPN App, ESPN.com and connected TV devices.

Recap courtesy of Western Golf Association