Jager moves at Northeast Amateur
IN: News | US Mens Amateur | Northeast Amateur Championship (2008) | Round Two | by Anthony Powter | 20 Jun 2008
Matt Jager earlier in the week remarked that his game was in good shape and his second round 2-under-par, 67, at the Northeast Amateur in Rhode Island reflected just that as the Western Australian catapulted up the scoreboard, to be just six strokes from the leader, American Nathan Smith.
Smith, a former USGA Mid-Amateur champion, continues to hold a one-stroke lead over two US Collegiate starts, Rory Hie of Southern California and Robert Rohanna from Pennsylvania State. New Zealand’s Danny Lee also remains in strong contention, with the 2008 Lake Macquarie Amateur, three strokes behind Smith, at 3-under-par and T5.
The Northeast Amateur is Jager’s first on the US Amateur circuit, although the 19-year-old previously played in the US as a junior.
“I’m feeling great going into the third round,” said Jager, who amassed seven top-10 finishes in National selection trial events this season, including a runner-up finish to the in-form Matthew Griffin at the Mandurah Easter Amateur.
“I went birdie, birdie finish on my last two holes today. Both were playing into the wind and the course is setup really hard. The greens are very sloppy and there were lots of tricky pins out there, so you had to think around the course.”
Grant Scott finds himself at T45, following rounds of 71-72 to be plus-5, whilst Jason Scrivener struggles at plus-9 for the tournament and T69.
“Traditionally the winning score here isn’t much better than par,” commented Jager after his second round. “I kind of feel that I’m in a great position with two rounds to go, but know the competition will be tough.”
