Bridgehampton, N.Y. – Scott Harvey of Greensboro, N.C., and Tim Hogarth of Northridge, Calif, completed the second day of stroke-play at even-par 144 Sunday and share the early lead for medalist honors at the 2010 U.S. Mid-Amateur.
A driving range operator, Harvey, 32, followed his first-round 71 at The Bridge Saturday with a 1-over-par 73 at Atlantic Golf Club Sunday.
Even par at any USGA event, even the U.S. Open is great, said Harvey, who helped North Carolina to a second-place finish at the USGA Men’s State Team Championship in California two weeks ago. It was just steady play. I hit it in the center of the greens and I didn’t try to get too aggressive in this wind.
Harvey, who advanced to match play at the 2010 U.S. Amateur, is the son of Bill Harvey, a member of the North Carolina Golf Hall of Fame who competed in 18 U.S. Amateurs.
To walk in his footsteps is not easy, Harvey said, But, it sure is fun.
I set high goals this summer, Harvey added. One of my goals was to win a USGA medal. That would be a huge honor.
Hogarth, 44, who won the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links, shot 1-under-par 71 at Atlantic Golf Club, the best of the morning wave, after a 1-over 73 at The Bridge.
Even par looks good and it’s looking better and better, said Hogarth of the windy conditions. The course is beating people up.
Past champion Kevin Marsh, who shot a 3-under-par 69 at The Bridge Saturday for a one-stroke lead after first day of stroke play, and defending champion Nathan Smith (72 Saturday) were among the 132 players who had afternoon starting times.
I was co-medalist in 2007 at Bandon Dunes and it is always special, said Hogarth when asked his feelings on earning medalist honors. I honestly was looking to get into match play and give myself a chance. Marsh is very tough. I don’t expect him to have problems. He is too good of a player.
Todd Burgan, 41, a pharmacist from Knoxville, Tenn. and a quarterfinalist in 2009, and Mike McCoy, 47, of West Des Moines, Iowa, the 2009 co-medalist, were a stroke behind Harvey and Hogarth at 1-over-par 145.
After the conclusion of the second round of stroke play, the U.S. Mid-Amateur field will be reduced to 64 players for match play, which will be played at Atlantic Golf Club. The first round of match play is scheduled for Monday, the second and third rounds will be played Tuesday, the quarterfinal and semifinal matches are on Wednesday, and the 36-hole championship final will be played Thursday.
The U.S. Mid- Amateur, which is open to golfers age 25 and older, is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.