SCOTTS BLUFF – Omaha’s Christopher Atkinson took charge of the 53rd Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship after the second round at Scotts Bluff Country Club on Wednesday.
Atkinson is the leader after firing a 71 (-1) to follow up his even-par first round. He put four birdies on the card, two on each side, but three bogeys on the front nine kept him at 1-under.
Reed Malleck of York, fresh off his win at the Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship last month, is in second, one stroke back. Malleck shot a 73 (+1), in what he said was a tough round for him. He only had one birdie at the ninth, but eagled the first hole. He also had two bogeys a side that brought him back to 1-over on the round.
Jack Davis of La Vista and Charlie Zielinski of Omaha are tied for third. Zielinski shot 72 (E) and Davis shot 74 (+2) to tie after their second rounds.
The 2018 champ Jason Kolbas of Lincoln is in a three-way tied for fifth, along with Geran Sander of Lincoln and 2019 Junior Match Play champion Luke Gutschewski of Elkhorn. Kolbas made four birdies in his round today en route to a 74 (+2). Sander made three birdies and shot his own 74 (+2). Finally, Gutschewski went on a run from 10-12, playing the stretch at (-3) that included an eagle at the par-5 eleventh, and finished with a second round 72 (E).
Ethan Shaw of Aurora and Rex Soulliere of Omaha are tied for eighth. Both players shot 72 (E), which followed up their pair of 76’s (+4) during the first round.
Rounding out the top 10 is Thomas Bryson of Lincoln. He shot a final round 78 (+6) after his 71 (-1) first round.
The field was cut for today’s final round, with 41 players advancing. The mark that made it in was 161 (+17), and Cael Peters of Mitchell and Nolan Fleming of Columbus were the two players to make the cut on the number.
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