AG Two Man Links Championship 36-hole update

With two rounds completed at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Scott Pitts and Danny Lovell continue to lead the gross division of the Two Man Links Championship. But with the Oregon coastal weather showing it's teeth, the experienced players in the field took advantage of their ability to strive forward, especially at Sheep Ranch -- the most exposed course on the property. The newest of Bandon Dunes' five 18-hole courses -- designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw -- has no sand bunkers, but not very many trees either. That means that many of the holes were either straight downwind, or right into the face of a full gale. Jack Anthony, playing with his son Jason, was the epitome of a "gamer" standing on the 17th tee, a drivable par-4 along the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. Despite being bundled up, and wearing two rain gloves like Phil Mickelson, Antony never changed his routine throughout the difficult day. With the biggest shoulder turn he could muster, Anthony powered a drive to within 15-feet on the par, and two-putted for birdie. That drove he and son Jason (a top Mid-Am golfer from Northern California) to tie the low round of the day (with Jeramie Ellison and Richard Boushka) at Sheep Ranch, an even par 72.

The Anthony duo not only lead the gross father/son division -- they are just three behind the 36-hole overall leaders Tim Lovell and Scott Pitts, for the overall gross lead. In the net division, the team that shocked the field in the first round -- Joseph and Joseph Mark Kowalski with a 13-under 58 at Pacific Dunes -- continued their solid play at Bandon Trails with a 6-under 66. At 19-under at the halfway point, they are trailed by Davis and Brad Hopkins who fired 66 at Bandon Trails. Two teams are tied at 12-under. Defending champs Johan Andersson and Randall Conn are getting some competition from fellow Texans Michael Boushka and Steve Cichy. Both teams are tied at 2-over gross, trailed by multiple past champions Sherman Haggerty and Ben Whipple, who are at 4-over. Tomorrow players compete at both Sheep Ranch and Pacific Dunes, with the final rounds being played at Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails.