Cliff fires second-round 64 for Cal State Fair lead over Bling

September 1, 2019 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Michael Cliff (Fresno State Athletics)

Michael Cliff had six birdies on his back nine to sprint into the lead.

After 36 holes, a Fresno State player is on the top of the California State Fair leaderboard. Michael Cliff, a Fresno, Calif., native surged into the lead with an 8-under 64 in the second round at the Alister MacKenzie course at Haggin Oaks in Sacramento, Calif. Nobody else could match it, and that left Cliff with the advantage entering the final round.

After opening with 67, Cliff started the day two shots off the pace. You might say that Cliff’s charge began on No. 17 in the first round, however. He made back-to-back eagles at Nos. 17 and 18 to end his first-round effort, then picked right up where he had left off with an eagle on the first hole on Sunday.

Cliff got on another streak on the back nine on Sunday, making six birdies – including three in a row from Nos. 16-18 – to close in 31 for his 64.

At 13 under, Cliff has so far managed to hold off defending champion Devon Bling, a junior at UCLA, by three shots. Bling posted rounds of 68-66 and is currently 10 under.

Hunter Epson and Berk Harvey are tied for third at 8 under. Harvey had the next-best round on Sunday, a 7-under 65.

As for first-round leaders Carson Barry and Kyosuke Hara, teammates at Oregon State, each backed up an opening 65 with a second-round 74 to fall to 5 under and a tie for 12th.

Results: California State Fair

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Devon Bling	Ridgecrest, CA	400	68-66-68=202
2	Michael Cliff	Fresno, CA	300	67-64-71=202
3	Berk Harvey	San Jose, CA	200	71-65-68=204
4	Jamie Cheatham	San Diego, CA	200	69-70-66=205
5	Blake Hathcoat	Fresno, CA	200	69-68-69=206

View full results for California State Fair

About the California State Fair

Cliff fires second-round 64 for Cal State Fair lead over Bling

The State Fair Men's Amateur Championship is one of the oldest and most prestigious Amateur Championships in the West. The Championship is limited to 108 players. Competition commences over a 54-hole stroke play format with 18 holes played each day. ...