Through two rounds of the Western Amateur at Point O’Woods Golf Club in Benton Harbor, Mich., Wetterich has a share of the lead with David Laskin of Elk Grove, Calif. Each player has had consistent rounds of 66-68 over the past two days, just in a different order. Wetterich’s card has only seen two bogeys.
“I wasn’t hitting the ball the greatest, but I managed my game really well and put myself in spots to make some birdies,” Wetterich told the Western Golf Association after his second-round 68.
“I’ve been focusing on my mental game and how to handle tough situations,” said Laskin, a rising senior at Arizona. “It was not a great bogey on the first, but I knew I could make plenty of birdies out there.”
A senior at Arizona, Laskin posted four birdies on his second nine, punctuating his round with one from nine feet on No. 18 for his 66.
Another of Laskin’s highlights came at No. 12 when he holed a 50-foot putt over a ridge for birdie. He said he made a similar, but longer, putt on No. 11 in the first round.
“I gave it a run, and it ended up being on the right line,” he said. “It was cool to see that one go in. I joked with my caddie that I should always leave myself below ridges.”
Nine players are tied for third at 5 under, including Quade Cummins, the recent Pacific Coast Amateur champion.
What was most surprising about the second-round leaderboard was the quality of players left outside the first cut. They include defending champion Cole Hammer, Walker Cup hopefuls Steven Fisk, Isaiah Salinda and John Augenstein, and North & South winner Cooper Dossey.
Interestingly, nine men from last year’s “sweet 16” at the Western returned this year, but after Wednesday only one remains. That’s recent Players Amateur champion Spencer Ralston, who is also part of the tie for third at 5 under.
Quotes and information from the Western Golf Association used in this report