Azalea Invitational: Rain cancels 3rd round
Michael Johnson
Editor's Note: The 3rd round of the Azalea Invitational was canceled due to heavy rains. The low 60 players and ties will play in the final round on Sunday. Below is our story following Friday's second round.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 28, 2014) -- Auburn's Michael Johnson rolled in putts of 40 and 25 feet to bookend a 5-under 66 to put him in a first-place tie alongside former Clemson golfer Brennan King atop the leaderboard after Round 2 at the Azalea Invitational at the Country Club of Charleston.
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Battling rainy conditions, Johnson countered a pair of bogeys with seven birdies on the 6,600-yard Seth Raynor design.
"It wasn't as windy today and because the course isn't too long, if you get it in the fairway off the tee, you have a lot of wedges in," said Johnson, a redshirt sophomore at Auburn. "I made a lot more putts today."
Johnson started his round with a 40-footer on the par-4 1st and ended with a 25-footer on the par-4 18th. Not a bad way to start and end a round at one of the year's top events, featuring one of the season's top fields.
"It definitely doesn't hurt the confidence," he said.
Brennan, a Charleston-area resident and former collegiate star, was equally impressive. He reeled off four straight birdies on the back nine to close a masterful 6-under 65.
A bogey-four on the par-3 12th was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect day.
North Florida's M.J. Maguire also shot 66 and sits one back of the co-leaders entering Saturday's third round. Edward Figueroa of Florida Gulf Coast shot 71 but remains alone in fourth place on the strength of his first-round 66.
First-round leader John Patterson, a Hilton Head-area mid-amateur, shot 73 Friday. He fell back to a tie for fifth place.
After getting completely through the second round, tournament officials are bracing for potential thunderstorms on Saturday. Last year's tournament -- won by Clemson freshman Austin Langdale (72-74, T50) -- was shortened to just 36 holes on account of rain. If Saturday's third round is completed, there will be a cut to the low 60 and ties for Sunday's finale.
The field is loaded with an ecclectic mix of mid-amateurs, collegiate stars and rising junior golfers.
New Orleans-area mid-amateur Patrick Christovich shot a second-round 67 and moved into a tie for ninth place. He's joined by Grayson Murray, a recent transfer to Arizona State and 2013 U.S. Open competitor. St. Louis-area mid-amateur Skip Berkmeyer is tied for 22nd following two straight rounds of 71.
Andy Zhang, the No. 3-ranked player in the Golfweek Junior rankings, shot 74 on Friday and slipped to a tie for 34th.
ABOUT THE Azalea Invitational
72-hole stroke play championship with a 54-hole cut
on a
1925
Seth Raynor design. Good mix of college
players, juniors
and mid amateurs. 7 spots available in a
qualifier.
Impressive list of past champions at this
traditional event. Reigning USGA champs often use
this tournament as a tune-up for the Masters.
View Complete Tournament Information