“I played smart. I hit a lot of greens and made good decisions in terms of where I was leaving the ball," Broderick told the New Hampshire Union Leader after Wednesday's round. "I hit it to spots and tried to two-putt.” 

One stroke back is Elliott Spaulding, who is fresh off his victory in the Maine Amateur Championship. The Loyola University incoming freshman who set the bar for lowest round of the tournament so far with a 6-under 66. Mathew Gover, then matched Spaulding in the afternoon with a 66 of his own.

Spaulding made four consecutive birdies on holes 2-6, adding another on the 9th to shoot 32 on the front nine, making three more birdies on the back. Gover, who won the MASCAC individual title this past fall as a member of the Mass College of Liberal Arts men's golf team, shot 5-under 31 over his final nine Wednesday (holes 1-9) to move into solo third place, two strokes back of Broderick.

​“Made seven birdies each day, but fewer mistakes (Wednesday),” Gover said afterward. “I’m definitely happy with the way I’ve played these two days because this summer has been a struggle. “I’m in the mix, but I’d say it’s going to take a really good day (Thursday). It’s going to be a fun day.”

Sitting just three off the lead are UConn's Connor Good and Temple's Ethan Whitney, while Rhode Island amateur champion Bobby Leopold is in solo sixth at 4-under.  Austin Giroux, the leader among Vermont players, fired a bogey-free round of 2-under and is among 11 tied in 9th place.