Porter extends lead at Orlando International Amateur

ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 29, 2019) – Greyson Porter grew his lead Saturday in the second round of the Orlando International Amateur, following up his first-round 63 with a second-round 64 at Orange County National’s Panther Lakes Course.

Porter again had just one bogey in his round. He added eight birdies to reach his 7-under number on the Panther Lakes layout. He is now 16 under for the tournament.

A year-end victory would be a nice exclamation point for a year that started with a runner-up finish in the New Year’s Invitational close to his Clearwater, Fla., home. Porter would also be the second Florida State player to score a victory to end the season after Seminole teammate Jonathan Keppler won the Dixie Amateur before Christmas.

Mid-amateur Jeronimo Esteve made a big climb up the leaderboard into second with a 6-under 65 at Panther Lake. Esteve, who lives in Windermere, Fla., but grew up in Miami, made it to the final 16 at the Crump Cup and was in the top 5 at the George C. Thomas Invitational. He is 9 under this week, and trails Porter by seven shots.

Thomas Lewis and Ian Peng are tied for third at 8 under. Three players are tied for fifth at 7 under.

ROUND 1

But for a bogey at the 18th hole, Greyson Porter’s day was flawless. Even with the bogey, Porter, a junior at Florida State, was still nearly perfect. A 9-under 63 at Orange County National’s Crooked Cat course set up a four-shot lead on the opening day of the Orlando International Amateur.

Porter, from Clearwater, Fla., had a productive year in which he was runner-up at the New Year’s Invitational, T-55 at the Jones Cup and T-9 at the Oglethorpe Invitational. The Orlando International represents a final shot at glory in 2018.

Porter leads a group of three players who posted 5-under 67 in the opening round. That group includes College of Charleston junior Michael Sass, Western Kentucky’s Linus Lo and Alabama commit Canon Claycomb. All three players played the Crooked Cat course.

A week ago, Lo finished runner-up to another Florida State player, Jonathan Keppler, at the Dixie Amateur.

Four more players had opening rounds 4 under and are in a tie for fifth.