Alex Springer maitains Magnolia Amateur lead

HATTIESBURG, MI (July 9, 2016) -- Central Missouri junior Alex Springer has maintained his lead at the Magnolia Amateur. Springer is 9-under and ahead of Pryce Beshoory by two-strokes after 36-holes of play at Hattiesburg Country Club. On Saturday, Springer followed up his opening round 66 with a 4-under 67. Springer registered his first of five birdies during the day on the 4th hole and then followed it up with 7th and 9th hole birds. After a front nine 3-under 32, Springer birdied two more holes on the homeward nine while only dropping one shot on No. 15. With 36-holes of play in the books Springer has only carded two bogeys, one each day. Incoming Houston freshman Pryce Beshoory is currently Springers closet challenger. Beshoory is 7-under after rounds of 69-66. The day started in mundane fashion for Beshoory and he was even for the day after 10 holes. With only eight holes remaining in his round the future Houston golfer jump started his round with birdies on 11, 12 and then back-to-back birdies again on Nos. 14 and 15. Beshoory concluded his torrid stretch with a birdie on the 18th. In all Beshoory had five birdies on the last eight holes. Texas commit Chad Sewell and Quade Cummins (Oklahoma) are tied for third at 5-under while Riley Johnson (Minnesota) and Garrett May (Baylor) are 4-under and share fifth. ROUND ONE RECAP Alex Springer will carry a one-stroke lead into the second day of play at the Magnolia Amateur. Springer fired an opening round 5-under 66 and he will lead five players by a stroke. Springer, a junior at Central Missouri, posted a 1-under 34 on the front nine setting the stage for an exciting homeward nine. The 2015 Division II PING Honorable Mention All-American birdied the 11th hole to reach 2-under. Following three pars Springer birdied three of the final four holes, including the last two as he finished the second nine in 4-under 32. The group tied for second place includes Hunter Wolcott (Tennessee), Cole Ray, Colin Troxler (Mississippi Gulf CC), Daniel Gurtner TCU) and Garrett May (Baylor). All five players fired 4-under 67's. In all after the first day of play 17 players are under-par and within four-strokes of Alex Springer's lead.