Sydneysider Harrison Endycott leapt into the Western Amateur mix today with a sparkling 66 at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois.
Endycott, who plays for Avondale Golf Club in Sydney’s north, fired seven birdies against just one bogey to vault into a tie for fifth at the prestigious event just west of Chicago.
The big move, after an even-par 72 in round one, made Endycott one of six Aussies to make the 44-man cut before 36 holes of strokeplay tomorrow, after which the field will be narrowed to 16 for matchplay.
Endycott trails leader Dawson Armstrong by five strokes after the Tennessee golfer matched his 66, but reached 11 under after his opening 67.
Fellow New South Welshman Troy Moses was the other big mover today, firing a three-under-par 69 to storm up to two under and T17 after he began the round 52nd.
West Australian Curtis Luck continued his consistent form with a 71 to be three under and T12, while Victorian Ryan Ruffels fired a second consecutive 71 to be two under and T17.
Victorian teammates Lucas Herbert (70) and Ben Eccles (71) will each resume on one under and in a share of 28th.
National squad members Cam Davis and Jarryd Felton each shot 71 today, but missed the even-par cut at three over.
But the big slider today was Queensland’s Jake McLeod who suffered through two double-bogeys on par-fives today in a 79 that dropped him from 6th to T83 at four over.
He was joined on that score by the unlucky Travis Smyth, of New South Wales, whose 10 on the tough 17th on day one prevented him from a far greater achievement.
The Shellharbour golfer fired a tidy two-under 70 today, but couldn’t fight his way any higher than four over.
Queenslander Taylor Macdonald showed glimpses of his best with a string of front-nine birdies, but bogeys on the back nine meant he signed for a 72 and five over.
South Australian Antonio Murdaca fired a second straight 75 to be six over, while Cory Crawford fell flat after his opening 71 with a pair of par-five double-bogeys en route to an 81 and eight over.