Salvanera cards 63 to take the Amateur Southwest lead
Salvanera cards 63 to take the Amateur Southwest lead
Arizona State junior Gabe Salvanera (ASU photo)
Gabe Salvanera has birdied seven times on his last nine holes, getting 30 up front after starting his day at the back. He completed a second-round 63 at Desert Mountain’s Geronimo course and sent him into the final two rounds of the Southwestern Amateur with a one-shot lead.
“Today I got more birdie looks and took advantage of that,” Salvanera said. “I was strong enough to keep him in play and make a few putts.”
The Arizona State junior from Queen Creek, Ariz., started with 67 and was three behind Shea Lague, who calmed down after a three-eagle performance on Wednesday. He signed for 1-under 71 on day two and is four times in a three-way tie for third with UC Davis junior Lucas Carper and Colorado State graduate Davis Bryant.
Washington State junior Jaden Cantafio sits just one back behind Salvanera, whose bogey-free 64 also propelled him up the standings.
Bryant’s second round matched Salvanera’s – a 63 that brings it down to four after a parity first-round 71. a row.
Forty players advanced to the final two rounds after the 36-hole cut, which had players 3 over par or better above the cut line.
ROUND 1 SUMMARY
Shea Lague already had two eagles under his belt heading into the first of two par-3s on the front nine of the Geronimo course. Starting from the back in the first round of the Southwestern Amateur, the second San Diego State student from Jamul, Calif., made three on each of the two par-5s he had played so far, the holes 12 and 1.
It’s not uncommon for a player of Lague’s caliber to card two eagles in a round, but things were about to get crazy.
Lague’s tee shot on the par-3 4th went in the hole for his third eagle of the day.
The ace pushed it to 6 under before a bogey and two birdies closed out the opening round 64, earning a deuce on day one at Desert Mountain.
UC Davis junior Lucas Carper and Arizona mid-amateur Cory Bacon are locked together at 5 under, with Carper bogey-free for his 66 and Bacon shooting 32 on his back nine to jump up the leaderboard.
Rounding out the top five were Rutgers sophomore and Scottsdale native Cade Anderson and Arizona State junior Gabe Salvanera. Both have posted 4-under par rounds of 67 and are three behind the head.
After Thursday’s second round, the field will be reduced to the top 36 and tied, leaving the third and fourth rounds to be completed on Friday and Saturday.
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72-hole stroke play championship for national-level amateurs with a handicap rating of 1.4 or better. After 36 holes, the field will cut to low 36 and ties. The SWGA Selection Committee will select players to compete based on byes, resume and rankings.
The SWGA reserves the right to invite nationally and internationally known amateurs, as well as other “branded” amateurs, to participate in the tournament. Applicants are requested to submit their applications with golf resumes of accomplishments in major tournaments and other competitive record information.
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