Ben Schlottman

Posting 64 in the second round of the Palmetto Amateur, Schlottman, of Advance. N.C., climbed to the top of the leaderboard after trailing first-round leaders Anthony Quayle and David Kocher.

Schlottman had a stellar freshman campaign with the Tigers, finishing in second place at the SEC Championship behind University of South Carolina standout Matt NeSmith.

Quayle, a native of Australia, and Kocher, a University of Maryland sophomore, fell back on Thursday but stayed inside of the top five. Quayle is in fourth after a 71 while Kocher posted 72 is tied for fifth with Azalea Invitational winner Todd White.

Second place is occupied by Clemson junior Austin Langdale, whose rounds of 66 and 68 have him just one back of his SEC rival. Langdale's teammate Billy Kennerly is alone in third two back of the lead.

Defending champion Emmanuel Kountakis, a Mercer University freshman, is tied for 25th after rounds of 70 and 73 to start the tournament.

ABOUT THE PALMETTO AMATEUR

The Palmetto Amateur was founded in 1976 by Dr. Berry Crain, Jr. and Skipper Perry. Gene McClure, a USGA rules official, longtime Palmetto member and past Executive Committee member, spoke to players on the eve of the 2015 tournament, the first one to be played without Crain (who passed away in early 2015) at the helm.

The 2015 champion will be the first to lift a new piece of hardware at Palmetto – the Berry Crain, Jr. Memorial Trophy, a sterling silver cup in memory of Dr. Crain.

Said McClure:

“It came from England as a memorial, and now it is a memorial to the great Berry Crain and to the strength of this golf championship that he and my good friend Skipper Perry created 40 years ago,” said McClure. “Berry Crain did so much for Palmetto Golf Club.”