Arizona State junior Gabe Salvanera (ASU photo)
Gabe Salvanera made seven birdies in his final nine holes, carding 30 on the front side after beginning his day on the back. It rounded out 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 had more birdie looks and I took advantage of
those looks,” said Salvanera. “I was pretty solid keeping it in play and making some putts.”
The Arizona State junior from Queen Creek, Ariz. opened with 67 and was three back of
Shea Lague, who cooled off following a three-eagle performance on Wednesday. He signed for 1-under 71 on day two and is four back in a three-way tie for third place with UC Davis junior
Lucas Carper and Colorado State graduating senior
Davis Bryant.
Sitting just one back of Salvanera is Washington State junior
Jaden Cantafio, whose bogey-free 64 similarly shot him up the leaderboard.
Bryant's second round matched that of Salvanera — a 63 that has him four back after a debut round of even-par 71. The Aurora, Colo. native made nine birdies and an eagle on Thursday, though surprisingly never strung together more than two birdies in a row.
Forty players advanced to the final two rounds following the 36-hole cut, which had players 3-over par or better above the cut line.
ROUND 1 RECAP
Shea Lague already had two eagles under his belt heading into the first of two par-3s on the Geronimo Course's front nine. Starting on the back side during the opening round of the Southwestern Amateur, the San Diego State sophomore from Jamul, Calif. made threes on each of the two par-5s he had played thus far, 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 at the par-3 4th went in the hole for his third eagle of the day.
The ace pushed him to 6 under before a bogey and two birdies would close out the first-round 64, securing a two-shot 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 going bogey-free for his 66 and Bacon shooting 32 on his second nine to jump towards the top of the leaderboard.
Rounding out the top-five are Rutgers sophomore and Scottsdale native
Cade Anderson, as well as Arizona State junior
Gabe Salvanera. Both posted 4-under par rounds of 67 and are three back of the lead.
Following Thursday's second round, the field will be cut to the top 36 and ties, leaving the third and fourth rounds to complete Friday and Saturday.
ABOUT THE Southwestern Amateur
72-hole stroke play championship for national-level
amateurs with a handicap index of
1.4 or better. After 36 holes, the field will be
cut to the low 36 and ties. The
SWGA Selection Committee will select players
to
compete based upon
exemptions, playing resume and rankings.
The SWGA reserves the right to invite
amateurs of national and international
reputation, as well as other amateurs "of
note", to enter into the tournament.
Applicants are urged to submit their entries
with golf resumes of accomplishment in
major tournaments and other competitive
record
information.
View Complete Tournament Information