Trans-Miss Amateur: Cameron Champ Takes the Halfway Lead

July 12, 2017 | by Art Stricklin of AmateurGolf.com

Scottie Scheffler's 65 put him o top at the halfway point of the Trans-Miss<br>(Trans-Miss photo)

Cameron Champ leads the 114th annual Trans-Mississippi Championship at warm and windy Prairie Dunes

By Art Stricklin for AmateurGolf.com

HUTCHINSON, KS (July 12, 2017) - Cameron Champ continued to build on his strong amateur performance at the U.S. Open by grabbing the second round lead at 114th annual Trans-Mississippi Championship at warm and windy Prairie Dunes Country Club.

Related: Trans Miss Amateur: Crouch, Richardson share round 1 lead

Champ, a Texas A&M senior from Sacramento, California, was only one of two amateurs to make the 36 hole cut at Erin Hills last month and showed that was no fluke by shooting a second round 65 for a 135 total, five-under-par, and a one shot lead over Stanford University golfer Franklin Huang who also shot 65.

First round co-leader Stoney Crouch, who recently graduated from Lipscomb University shot a second 69 and is tied with Haung for second with a 136 total.

Champ said the confidence gained at Erin Hills last month at the Open carried over to the Trans-Miss where temperatures closed in on 100 for the second straight day and winds of 10-20 miles an hour.

“That performance showed me what was possible for the future and what I could do,” Champ said. “I have battled (back) injury problems and haven’t been able to show my true potential. That is a big confidence boost what I did there.”

Champ birdied two of his last three holes on the day, the par 5 7th and par 4 9th holes, his 16th and 18th of the day. For the second round he had six birdies and only one bogey.

He showed the dedication and rebounding ability from day one when he made a triple bogey 7 on the par 4 11th hole, but still came back to shoot an even par 71 and was four shots back going to the second day.

“I have loved my time at Texas A&M, but I want to continue to play major amateur golf in the U.S. and internationally.”

Huang, from Poway, California, a senior this year at Stanford known as Frank the Tank at his school, had an eagle on the par 5 seventh hole and birdies on both 16 and 18 sandwiched in a bogey on 17. He also had a triple bogey six on the second hole during the first day and came back to record a 71.

Crouch had 16 pars in his round with two birdies and a bogey to remind on a shot out of the lead.

“This is one of the biggest tournaments I’ve ever played in so I’m very excited,” he said.

Former Trans Miss Champ Collin Morikawa is fourth at 68-138. Defending champion Will Zalatoris, bidding for his third win in four years, fired a second round 70, and is tied for 21st place at 143.

Results: Trans-Miss Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Cameron Champ	Sacramento, CA	1200	70-65-66=201
T2	Collin Morikawa	La Cañada Flintridge, CA	900	70-68-67=205
T2	Stoney Crouch	Mount Juliet, TN	900	67-69-69=205
4	Chandler Phillips	Huntsville, TX	700	69-73-64=206
T5	Tyler Strafaci	Davie, FL	700	72-70-66=208

View full results for Trans-Miss Amateur

About the Trans-Miss Amateur

Trans-Miss Amateur: Cameron Champ Takes the Halfway Lead

The Trans-Miss is one of the oldest and most storied golf tournaments in the United States. For 106 years the championship was played in a match play format. Past champions include Jack Nicklaus (1958 and 1959), Charles Coe (1947, 1949, 1952 and 1956...