Gavin Hall
(Golfweek Photo)

The Texas senior birdied the 3rd hole before giving it back on the ensuing hole. Following a par on No. 5 Hall got on a roll, birdieing three holes in a row and five of the next eight to surge to 14-under for the first time. Hall remained their until his only other bogey of the day on the 16th. However, a quick rebound birdie on the 17th brought him back to 14-under.

Hall is playing in his fifth Porter Cup and the New York native would love nothing better then to have his name added to the prestigious list of champions.

Australian Harrison Endycott, 10-under, will be the closest pursuer during Saturday's final round. Endycott followed up his second round 6-under 64 with a third day 3-under 67. Endycott parred his first six holes before dropping his only stroke of the day on the 7th. Needing to keep pace with Hall, Endycott got things going with a birdie on the 9th, before rolling in three consecutive birds from holes 11-13. The birdie on No. 13 proved to be his fourth and final of the day.

The two leaders have certainly created some separation between them and the rest of the field; mid-amateur Justin Tereshko is 6-under in a distant third place. Top-ranked mid-amateur Scott Harvey and Will Long (Auburn) are tied for fourth at 5-under.

ROUND TWO RECAP

Gavin Hall is playing like a man on a mission. That mission, to put an Upstate-New York player's name on the prestigious Porter Cup trophy.

Today the Rochester native posted a 4-under 66 on top of his solid opening round of 65 to stand at 9-under at Niagara Falls Country Club. And it could have been lower -- Hall (a left hander) had 5 birdies, 1 bogey, an eagle, and a dreaded par-5 double bogey on the second hole.

Give him credit for not losing focus.

Another player with his eye on the prize is Harrison Endycott, who won just about everything in Australia in their Summer season (our Winter) earlier this year. Today he posted 64 on the strength of 8 birdies and just two bogeys. His final birdie came on the 184 year par-3 18th hole. The closer of Niagara Falls CC is a beauty, with the clubhouse in the background and a small green that will be surrounded by 3,000 fans on Saturday for the final round.

Endycott (and anyone contending for the title) would love to make birdie to close the tournament.

ROUND ONE RECAP

Playing in his home state Gavin Hall, shot a 5-under 65 to take the first round lead at the Porter Cup. Hall will take a three-stroke lead into the second round at Niagara Falls Country Club.

Hall, a senior at Texas, started his day quickly with a birdie on the opening hole as he jump started a bogey-free 5-under 30 front side. The fifth time Porter Cup participant, cooled off on the backside with a birdie and his only bogey of the day, but he was still able to sign for the round of the day when all was said and done.

In addition to his birdie on No. 1, Hall, from Pittsford, NY, carded birds on holes 3, 5, 6, 9 and 11. His only bogey came on the 15th hole.

A quintet of players will begin the second round tied for second place at 2-under. The group includes Gaston Bertinotti (Campbell), Will Long (Auburn), Ben Reichert (East Tennessee State), Jake Shuman (Duke) and future Georgia Tech golfer Tyler Strafaci.

Another six players share seventh place following 1-under 69's. Among those at 1-under are Australian Harrison Endycott and Texas junior Taylor Funk.