Brad Karns of Vancouver, Wash. followed up his opening round of 2-under 70 with a 71 in today’s second round, to build his lead in the 31st Washington State Senior Men’s Amateur and hold on tight in his attempt at repeating as champion.
Karns is the only player in the field to have a combined two-round total under par. He had started today’s round with a one-shot lead over Jim McNelis of Gig Harbor, Wash., and increased it to three shots over McNelis heading into tomorrow’s final round.
In last year’s championship, Karns won by a single shot over McNelis. The two will be paired together in the final group in tomorrow’s final round. Joining them in the final group is Larry Daniels of Seattle, who shot 2-under 70 today to leapfrog up the leaderboard and sit just five shots back of Karns. Daniels won this title in 2009.
In the 10th Washington State Super Senior Men’s Amateur, a couple of familiar names are rising to the top. John Gallacher of Burnaby, B.C. had opened with a 7-over 79 in yesterday’s first round, but vaulted to the top of the leaderboard with a 3-under 69 in today’s round, the best round of either championship so far. Gallacher finished second in last year’s championship, two shots behind Gudmund Lindbjerg of Port Moody, B.C.
Tomorrow’s final round will start with Gallacher holding a slim four-shot lead over first-round leader Tom Kubisa of Bremerton, Wash. Lindbjerg sits in third place, five back of Gallacher.
Last week Gallacher and Lindbjerg won the PNGA Men’s Super Senior Team title.
Both championships are being held concurrently at Sunland Golf and Country Club in Sequim, Wash. They each are contested over 54 holes of stroke play and are conducted by the Washington State Golf Association (WSGA).
Click here for pairings and more information about the Senior Men’s Amateur Championship, and here for the Super Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.
Follow the championships on Twitter at the handle @WSGAChampions for live updates and news and use the hashtag #WSGASrMensAm.