U.S. Senior Open: Mike McCoy leads group of three amateurs to make cut

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Mike McCoy is no stranger to USGA tournaments, seeing that the 36th U.S. Senior Open is his 42nd event run by the national organization. On day one at Del Paso, McCoy shot an even-par 70 and was just four shots behind Tom Watson, and in a tie for 24th place. McCoy posted 72 on Friday and made the cut for the second consecutive year. McCoy, a perennial mid-amateur player from West Des Moines, Iowa who won the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur, was low amateur in last year's event at Oak Tree. Out of 27 amateurs who advanced to the championship proper, McCoy leads a trio of players who will play the weekend. Mike Finster of St. Petersburg, Fla. had a wild second round that resulted in a one-under 69. After ending the day on Thursday with three straight double-bogeys to shoot 76, Finster made three birdies and an eagle on day two to cancel out two bogeys and a double and shoot the only under-par round by an amateur thus far. Also at five-over, making the cut on the number, was Dave Ryan of Taylorville, Illinois. He got his second round as low as two-under after back-to-back birdies at holes 3 and 4, but slowly fell down the leaderboard with four scattered bogeys. Still, Ryan will see the weekend at Del Paso and have a shot at low amateur honors.