Birmingham National Invitational: Blake Watts, Kenny Cook lead after 36 holes

November 4, 2023 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com

Kenny Cook (USGA Photo)

The duo leads the field by one shot heading into the final round.

Blake Watts and Kenny Cook lead the Birmingham National Invitational at Birmingham Country Club in Birmingham, Ala., by one shot.

Watts and Cook sit at 3-under total. Both shot low rounds of the tournament in their second round, with Cook shooting a 5-under 66 after a first-round 2-over 73 and Watts shooting a second-round 4-under 67 after an opening round of 1-over 72.

First-round leader Trent Alexander shot an even-par 71 after a first-round 2-under 69 and is one shot back in solo second place.

Nick Maccario is in solo fourth place at 1-under after rounds of 71-70.

Keith Guest, Andy Sajevic, and Stewart Whitt are all T5 at even par.

Cook finished runner-up at the 2011 U.S. Mid-Amateur and won the 2019 Indiana Mid-Amateur.

Results: Birmingham National Invitational

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Blake Watts	Fort Payne, AL	300	72-67-69=208
2	Nick Maccario	Waltham, MA	200	71-70-72=213
3	Andy Sajevic	Omaha, NE	100	71-71-72=214
4	Jeff Reuter	Humboldt, TN	100	72-72-71=215
T5	Steven Groover	Hoover, AL	100	72-73-71=216

View full results for Birmingham National Invitational

About the Birmingham National Invitational

Birmingham National Invitational: Blake Watts, Kenny Cook lead after 36 holes

This 54-hole stroke play event, formerly held the weekend after Memorial Day but moved to November in 2020, dates back to the early 1900's and is also known as the "NIT". Draws a field of national-level mid-amateurs.