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Barlow explodes to lead at Illinois Amateur
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Zach Barlow had hit putting stick going Wednesday in Wheaton.
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Aug. 13, 2008
Wheaton, Ill. -
University of Illinois junior and Percy native Zach Barlow used a hot start to his second round to take the lead at the Illinois State Amateur at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill.
Barlow shot a scintillating 67 to take a two-stroke lead after 36 of 72 holes. At -5 for the tournament, he is one of just six players under par. Jason Woll and Tommy Bliefnick are at -3 with Brad Hopfinger, Scott Pralle and Michael Slovitt tied for third at -3.
Barlow went out early in the day, and it didn't take him much time to shoot up the leaderboard. He birdied four of his first seven holes with one of only two bogeys in his round sandwiched in between. Barlow then birdied the first two holes of the back nine to make it six birdies in 11 holes, moving to five under. Overall, he birdied three of the four par-fives on the 7,055-yard par-72 course.
"I tried to be aggressive, especially on my approach shots," Barlow said. "I got up and down when I had to, but the key to my round was finally making some putts. I figured the scores would be pretty low, so I set out to go for it and try to make birdies. My lag putting was really working for me today."
After putting up an early low score, he waited as players took aim at his five-under par number. At one point in the day, two players sat at -4, but Barlow was the only player to get as low as -5.
Despite holding the lead, Barlow downplayed his position. "No matter what, I just want to go out and play the course," he said. "You can see the leaderboard several places around the course and it is hard not look at, but I still want to play my game, shoot as low a score as possible and see what happens."
Barlow tees off his of first of 36 holes Thursday at 8:10 a.m. CDT in his quest for his first Illinois State Amateur title. He is not the only Illini to make the cut at the event. Sophomore Clayton Parkhill of Champaign and freshman Mason Jacobs of Metropolis are each in a tie for 20th at +4. Parkhill shot his second straight 74, while Jacobs fired a 71 on Wednesday.
Hoffman near the top at Canadian Amateur
Illinois junior Matt Hoffman shot his second straight 69 and sits in a tie for 11th at the Canadian Amateur in Lethbridge, Alberta. His two-under par score moves him to -3 after three of four rounds at the event, good for a tie for 11th. "I had another round where I made very few mistakes," said Hoffman, a native of Thornhill, Ontario. "I didn't hit all the fairways, but was able to get up and down each time. The birdies in my round continue to give me a lot of confidence." Scott Stiles of Calgary shot a third-round 66 to move to -8, in a tie for first with second-round co-leader Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ontario
Guthrie off and running at Junior PGA
Illinois incoming freshman Luke Guthrie shot an opening round two-under par 70 in the first round of the Junior PGA Championship. The 2007 Junior Player of the Year finished third in the tournament last year behind current Illini Chris DeForest. Guthrie's round included four birdies and two bogeys. He is four strokes behind the lead. The 72-hole event, which moved to TPC River Bend in suburban Cincinnati, continues through Saturday. The 2008 Junior Ryder Cup Team will be named following the event. Guthrie was a member of that team in 2004.
