Meinhart, Dore share 36-hole lead at Illinois State Amateur

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Derek Meinhart posted the lowest score of the tournament thus far, a six-under 65 at Panther Creek Country Club, to join 17-year-old Conor Dore atop the 36-hole leaderboard at the 85th Illinois State Amateur. Meinhart, a mid-amateur player from Mattoon who won this year's Carlton Woods Invitational in Texas, will head to Thursday's 36-hole finale tied with Dore, a graduated senior from Whitney Young High School who will play for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville beginning this fall. With Wednesday's cut falling at six-over par, 42 players are set for the final two rounds. Twelve players are at even-par or better, including first-round leader Brian Bullington, who is one back, and University of Illinois standout sophomore Nick Hardy. Hardy, who lead his team to the NCAA National Championship finals is six-back in a tie for 7th at one-under. Defending champion Raymond Knoll is eight shots back in a tie for 13th place after opening rounds of 71 and 72. More to come later in a full story from the CDGA.