North Carolina Amateur: McLamb Takes the 36-Hole Lead

DAVIDSON, NC (June 16, 2017) - 20-year-old Brett McLamb of Coats used five birdies and an eagle Friday to jump to the top of the 57th North Carolina Amateur leaderboard at River Run Country Club in Davidson. His three-under 69 gives McLamb a one-shot advantage over three players. "It gets me into the weekend. You don't win this event in two days. Hopefully I will continue to pick it up, day by day." A rising redshirt sophomore at Campbell University, McLamb said his flatstick took the spotlight Friday, "I putted a lot better today, that was the difference maker." Three consecutive bogeys coming in decreased McLamb's lead to just one at the championship's halfway mark (71-69--140). First round leader Logan Harrell of Huntersville is one of those players lurking one-shot behind McLamb. Harrell posted one-over 73 to fall into a tie for second at three-under-par overall. After converting six birdies in his opening-round 68. Harrell made just one birdie Friday, offset by two bogeys. Tied for second with Harrell at 141 are Jake McGlone of Charlotte (72-69) and Josh Nichols of Kernersville (71-70). Two-time NC Amateur runner-up Justin Tereshko of Greensboro is alone in fifth (72-70--142). AJ Beechler of Pinehurst recorded Friday's low round of seven-under 65. The 17-year-old credits hitting 12-of-14 fairways on the 7,200 yard layout as the key to his great play. "It's hard hitting it out of the rough on this course, you can catch a flyer lie and carry the ball over the green." The 65 ties his career-best competitive round, catapulting Beechler into a seven-way tie for sixth place at 1-under overall (78-65--143). Beechler birdied eight holes, including all four of River Run's par-5s. A 20-foot birdie on 16 kick-started a closing birdie barrage, which was followed by a five-iron on the 211-yard par-3 17th to eight feet and an up and down birdie on the 548 yard par-5 18th. A rising high school senior, Beechler has verbally committed to play college golf at UNC-Greensboro. Twelve players finished in red figures after 36 holes. The field was cut from 152 to the low 60 players and ties for the final 36 holes of competition on Saturday and Sunday. The cutline fell at eight-over-par 152. 63 players advanced to the weekend, including the youngest player in the field, 14-year-old Ike Joy of Denver (73-77--150). Making the cut on the number, 54-year-old Steve Harwell of Mooresville, is the oldest player in the field and multi-time club champion at River Run Country Club. Play was delayed 43 minutes at 6:48 p.m. for lightning in the area.