Amateur David Kocher Takes Commanding Lead at 52nd North Carolina Open

KANNAPOLIS, NC (June 8, 2016) -- David Kocher, an amateur from Charlotte, has a five stroke lead after the second round of the 52nd SignArt North Carolina Open held at The Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis, NC. Kocher entered the day one shot behind first round leader Kelly Mitchum. Kocher, who recently finished his sophomore season on the University of Maryland Golf Team after a stellar high school career at Charlotte Christian School, began his round with a bang, with birdies on five of his first six holes.

Mitchum, a notable PGA Professional at Pinehurst Resort & CC in Pinehurst, NC, battled back with birdies on holes 5, 6 and 9, to trim the lead to one stroke after the front nine, but Kocher’s birdies on 13 and 14 led to a bogey free -7 under round of 64 and a commanding five stroke lead over Mitchum.

Jerry Haas, the Head Golf Coach at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC and amateur Blake Taylor from Atkinson, NC sit in a tie for third at -5 under, after both players carded -3 under 68’s in the second round.

Of the 168 competitors, representing the top playing PGA Professionals and amateurs in North and South Carolina, 64 players survived the +5 over cut, to advance to Thursday’s third and final round of this 54- hole championship.