Will Zalatoris climbs in front at Pacific Coast Amateur

EUGENE, Ore. — 2014 USGA Junior Champion Will Zalatoris of Plano, Texas and a member of the Wake Forest Demon Deacon Men's Golf Team, posted an impressive three-under-par second round to take a one-stroke-lead at the 49th Pacific Coast Amateur Championship hosted by Eugene Country Club.

After opening the Championship with a modest even-par 70 yesterday, Zalatoris put himself in great position heading into the final 36-holes of the Championship with a three- under-par 67 second round.

Zalatoris, who had grandeur amateur competition plans this summer before falling ill and requiring an emergency appendectomy, is glad to be back in his form that garnered him attention as a preliminary Walker Cup hopeful.

"Coming off surgery, I was really looking forward to this week. My game started to click right after the final round of the Southern Amateur and I played some really good rounds at home recently," stated Zalatoris.

"My dad joked that 'I am back' but I really haven't been anywhere it is just getting back in the rhythm of things."

Asked about how motivating it was to have John 'Spider' Miller, the Captain of the United States Walker Cup team, speak at the Player's Dinner on Monday and watch all week, Zalatoris was true to his determined nature as a golfer.

"I get a chance to represent my country and I know that the tables weren't really in my favor in May and June when I had the surgery but I had a really good year last year," stated Zalatoris.

"All I can do is play good golf and control my emotions."

Sitting one stroke back from the Texan is a part time Texas native in Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis, California. DeChambeau, the reigning NCAA individual champion and member of the Southern Methodist University Mustang Men's Golf Team out of Dallas, posted rounds of 70-68 (138) to sit at two-under-par for the Championship, solo second.

First round leader Colton Yates of Scottsdale, Arizona slid slightly down the leaderboard with a three-over-par 73, en route to posting 140 (67-73). Tied with Yates in third are Scottie Scheffler of Dallas, Texas (72-68), Andrew McCain of Trinity, Florida (70-70) and University of Oregon Duck Aaron Wise of Lake Elsinore, California who posted 69-71.

Other leaderboard notables to watch heading into the home stretch of the 72-hole stroke play competition is defending champion Corey Pereira of Cameron Park, CA (72-69-141; T7) and local Eugenian and Oregon Duck Sulman Raza (75-66-141; T7). Raza posted to low round of round two with a four-under-par 66. Maverick McNealy of Portola Valley, California sits tied for 11th after rounds of 70-72 (142).

Capturing the Morse Cup team competition is the contingent from the Northern California Golf Association lead by DeChambeau, McNealy and Pereira. Finishing runner-up in the 36- hole team competition was their competitors to the south and defending champions Southern California Golf Association.

Held on an annual basis since 1967, with roots dating back to 1901, the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship boasts a rich history of showcasing some of the most talented golfers in the United States, Canada and beyond.

Past champions of the Pacific Coast Amateur who have gone on to successful professional careers include PGA Tour winners Billy Mayfair (1987, 1988), Jason Gore (1997) and Ben Crane (1998) as well as Web.com Tour winners and brothers Michael Putnam (2004) and Andrew Putnam (2010), both of whom won at Eugene Country Club.