Nicola Kaminski of Los Gatos, Calif., surged into the lead during the second round of the 109th Southwestern Amateur at Desert Mountain’s Outlaw Golf Course in Scottsdale, Ariz. She has a two-day total of 8-under and followed her opening 3-under 69 with a stellar 5-under 67, featuring six birdies and just one bogey.
“I feel good about my game. I was pretty comfortable. My patience was tested at the beginning because I couldn’t get putts to drop, but I just had to stay patient and trust that God had a plan for my round,” said Kaminski, who attends San Jose State.
Madelyn Gamble from Pleasant Hill, California, sits one stroke back in second place after a roller-coaster round of 69, which included seven birdies and four bogeys. “I wanted to be committed and decisive while I was playing.
I wanted to keep it simple because that’s something I’ve worked on throughout the college season and in the summer as well,” Gamble shared. Gamble is a golfer at Washington State.
Taiwan’s Yu-Chu Chen and Lauren Gomez from Murrieta, California, are tied for third at 6-under, two strokes behind Kaminski. Gomez plays golf for Pepperdine. McKenzi Hall from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Molly Smith from Westford, Massachusetts, are both three strokes off the lead at 5-under.
Hall, a UNLV golfer, posted a strong 67 today, positioning herself well for the final two days. “
I told myself to stay patient. Yesterday, some of my shots weren’t falling, and it was frustrating. I told myself the shots would fall, and then I started to make putts,” Hall commented.
Smith, who attends UCF, noted, “I feel that overall, I am hitting it pretty well, and I am managing my game pretty well around this course.”
Ashley Menne, an ASU graduate and Surprise, Arizona native, shot the low round of the day with a 6-under 66, putting herself back in contention. “It feels great to be back at the tournament. I always enjoy playing the Southwestern. I love supporting Arizona golf, and it’s a great course,” Menne said.
A total of 40 women made the cut at 3-over or better.
Recap courtesy of Southwestern Women's Amateur