Hunter Eichhorn takes over lead at the Patriot All-America

It was a mild 61 degrees in the Phoenix area on Thursday but Hunter Eichhorn, a fifth-year senior at Marquette created a heatwave of his own at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield, Ariz. by carding a 7-under 63 to take the 36-hole lead at the Patriot All-America Invitational.

After opening with a 4-under 67 on Wednesday, the two-time BIG EAST Player of the Year made seven birdies in a bogey-free round to move to 10-under 130 for the tournament, which is good for a one-stroke lead over Mason Andersen of Arizona State and Palmer Jackson of Notre Dame heading into Friday's final round.

First-round leader Chase Sienkiewicz of the University of Arizona, who carded a 1-under 69 on Thursday, is tied for third with Connor Howe of Georgia Tech at 8-under 132. Tyler Wilkes, a sophomore at the University of Florida, moved into a tie for 8th place at 6-under 134 after making birdies on his final four holes en route to a second-round 64.

U.S. Amateur champion James Piot of Michigan State began the day just one off the lead but slipped down into a tie for 12th after shooting a 1-over 71 on Thursday.

😮 How low can they go?!

🔥 Hunter Eichhorn birdies the last two holes to card a flawless second round 7⃣ - under 63!

🔝He sits atop the leaderboard heading into tomorrow's final round. pic.twitter.com/Jg45xyl1SD

— Patriot All-America Invitational Golf Tournament (@ThePatriotAllAm) December 31, 2021

Eichhorn, a native of Carney, Mich., which is located in Menominee County along US-41 in the Upper Peninsula, took advantage of a fifth year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic. He's won five times as a collegian and earned BIG EAST Player of the Year honors in 2017-18 and 2020-21.