Saturday’s second round was similarly difficult to Friday’s first round. The field scoring average was 76.3 on Saturday and only seven players are under par entering Sunday’s play.

For the leaders, it was a tale of being close to the history of the St. Augustine Amateur and far away from the competition, which began in 2004.

Duff, 23, grew up in a house adjacent to the landing area right of the first fairway at the St. Johns Golf Club and has followed the tournament his entire golf life. He is a fifth-year senior for the Ospreys. His two rounds have included six birdies and an eagle, alongside caddie and UNF teammate Chase Carroll, who happens to be college roommates with Erickson.

“It’s always been one of my goals to win this tournament,” said Duff, who is being followed by family, friends, and neighbors this week. “It would be an honor to complete that on Sunday.”

According to the St. Augustine Amateur, Sui is a 20-year-old amateur who was an American Junior Golf Association all-star in 2020. However, when the Covid pandemic was in full force in 2021, his game suffered, and Sui didn’t have the Division I college offers that he hoped for.

Sui and his father, Shane, who doubles as his caddie, opted to play a full amateur schedule of Michigan events in the summer and Florida tournaments in the winter. He found out about the St. Augustine Amateur a couple of weeks ago.

“I decided to take my own path, and it’s worked out so far,” said Sui, who has made 10 birdies and an eagle in 36 holes and had Saturday’s low round (67). “I take mostly online courses at the University of Florida and practice and play individually. It’s a bit of a different way to play, but I’m focused on that now.