Scott Harvey takes 36-hole George C. Thomas Invitational lead

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 24, 2016) -- Scott Harvey, the 16th ranked mid-amateur in the country posted a 2-under 70 and took over the top spot at the George C. Thomas Invitational. Playing at Los Angeles Country Club, Harvey is two-strokes in front of Stewart Hagestad and first round leader Kris Mikkelsen, both are even-par. Harvey began the second round two shots off the lead set by Mikkelsen following an even-par 72 in the first round. This weekend Harvey will be in search of his first ranking event victory of the year. Stewart Hagestad matched Harvey with a 2-under 68 of his own. Hagestad was able to move into a second place tie and even-par overall after opening in 2-over 72. Mikkelsen took the lead on Thursday with an opening round 2-under 68. On Friday the 2014 event runner-up dropped a pair of strokes with a 2-over 72 and fell back to even-par. Mikkelsen is currently the other half of the first place tie. Mike McCoy is in third place at 1-over. McCoy has posted rounds of 72-69 so far. SENIOR DIVISION Buddy Marucci shot a second round 2-over 74 but still leads by three shots at 2-under. Marucci began his week with a 4-under 66 on Thursday. Douglas Farr is 1-over after rounds of 70-73 and is in second place. Chip Lutz, Brady Exber and Steve Hudson are all 2-over and tied for third. ROUND ONE RECAP With the first round in the books Kris Mikkelsen finds himself on top of the George C. Thomas Invitational leaderboard after a 2-under 68. Playing on the North Course at the Los Angeles Country Club Mikkelsen will carry a two-stroke lead into Friday's second round. Mikkelsen, from Atlanta, GA had four top-15 finishes in ranked events this year and this week he is looking for his first. His best ranking event finish last year came at the George C. Thomas Invitational where he tied for eighth. Mikkelsen seems to always play well at Los Angeles Country Club as he finished in a tie for second in 2014. Scott Harvey, the 16th ranked mid-amateur in the country, shot an even-par 70 in the first round and he is in second place. Harvey had a pair of ranking wins last year but he is in search of his first this year. Four players are 1-over and in third while four others are 2-over and in a seventh place tie. SENIOR DIVISION 2008 U.S. Senior Amateur winner Buddy Marucci is leading the pack after an opening 4-under 66. Marcucci, from Villanova, PA, will carry a three-stroke lead into the second round. Duke Delcher is 1-under and in second place while Douglas Farr and Steve Hudson share third at even-par.