Butscher has slim Florida Azalea lead after back-to-back 67s

Consistency has been key for Sean Butscher around the short but quirky Palatka (Fla.) Golf Club. After back-to-back rounds of 3-under 67, the Tallahassee native will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Florida Azalea.

So far, Butscher, a former member of the Austin Peay State men’s golf team, has best managed the Donald Ross layout located just south of Jacksonville. Scores have been low, however, and Maine’s Cole Anderson is right behind Butscher after rounds of 68-67.

Familiar names – and names that top impressive amateur-golf resumes – dot the leaderboard, too. Three players are tied for third at 4-under 136. Jake Carter, Bryce Lewis and Greyson Porter are in that group. Porter is a Florida State junior who won the Orlando International Amateur to end 2018.

Another five shots down the leaderboard, U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Kevin O’Connell gained ground with a second-round 68. O’Connell, coming off starts at the Jones Cup and Gasparilla Invitational, had opened with 3-over 73.

Joe Alfieri, a Lutz, Fla., native who was top 5 at the Gasparilla Invite after holding the first-round lead, is a shot behind O’Connell after rounds of 71-71.