Aussies in the hunt at Cotton States
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2008 Cotton States Invitational | Round Two | 26 Jun 2008
Americans Hudson Johnson and Scott Kelly, have tied for medallist honours at the Cotton States Amateur Championship following the completion of the stroke qualification rounds at Bayou DeSiard Country Club in Monroe, Louisiana with rounds of 7-under-par, 137.
Grant Scott was the highest Australian qualifier for the matchplay component of the championship at 24th with rounds of 71-71, to finish at 2-under-par, five strokes from Johnson and Kelly.
Scott, a top-16 finisher at the Australian Amateur in April, is scheduled to play Michael Smith from Texas in the first round of the elimination matchplay round starting tomorrow, with the Australian a solid prospect of advancing based on his world ranking of 157, against the American, who is relatively new to the major amateur scene.
David McKendrick, originally from Victoria and who is now attending college at the University of Louisiana, was lucky to make the cut after a second round 2-over-par 74, to finish 147, a stroke inside the top 64 qualification mark. McKendrick was runner-up in this tournament last year.
New Zealand’s Leighton James awaits his fate, following a second round of 7-over-par 79, to be one of nine players, including Australian Nathan McMullen, playing in a sudden death play-off for the remaining six match-play positions.
Australians Ben Weatherly, Rhys McGovern and Luke Bleumink all qualified for the matchplay. John Herrick finished outside the cut.
