Berkeley Hall Golf Club, Bluffton, SC (July 12, 2013) Rain didn’t stop first round leader Hunter Stewart from holding onto his lead at the end of round two of the 14th annual Players Amateur. The Vanderbilt University golfer shot 4-under par today to card a two round total score of 132.
The threat of severe weather pushed Friday’s restart back an hour and a half past the planned 9 am start time. Seven groups still had to finish their first round while close to half the field had already begun their second round on Thursday when play was called due to lightning.
The severe weather stayed away, but rain plagued the contestants for most of Friday. University of California golfer Michael Weaver shot five-under par Thursday and Friday to put him in second place just two shots behind Stewart. He said the rain didn’t bother him, “It just is what it is. You play in it every once in a while and you have to deal with it the best you can.”
The rain didn’t affect University of South Florida’s Chase Koepka’s score either. The rising sophomore had 2 bogie free rounds even though he endured hard rain for 5 holes on Friday. He told reporters the rain did affect his ability to judge the greens, “They were slowing up just a touch and as soon as the rain went away they sped right back up. That was the challenge out there today.” He carded 2 second round birdies earning him a two-day 137 to put him at 7-under par.
Gregor Orlando withdrew after Friday’s round due to back pain.
Saturday’s round will begin at 7 am off the first tee.