Jacob Bergeron had the low round of the day by four shots to jump into the 54-hole lead
(Augusta Chronicle photo)
MIAMI BEACH, FL (December 21, 2017) - Jacob Bergeron (Slidell, LA) shot a bogey-free 9-under 62 to grab the 54-hole lead at the South Beach International Amateur at Normandy Shores Golf Course.
Bergeron, a freshman at LSU, was six shots back when the sat started but had the low round of the day by four shots. He is currently 13 under par with one round to go.
The low scoring continued on Thursday, as 35 of the 78 players making the cut posted subpar rounds.
Travis Vick, the 17-year-old high schooler from Houston who led after an opening 62 of his own, shot a 69 to get to 12 under and one shot behind Bergeron.
18-year-old Benjamin Jones of England shot a 5-under 66 to pull into a tie for third at 10 under. Riley Elmes (Lake Oswego, OR), a junior at Loyola Marymount, is at that same figure after a 2-under 69.
Harry Hall, of England and UNLV, fell out of the lead that he held alone after two rounds, struggling to a 75 that left him five shots back at 8 under.
With perfect weather forecast for the final round, the low scoring should continue, and with 23 players within 8 shots of the lead, it should be a shootout.
There will be no repeat champion this year, as last year's winner Danny Walker missed the 36-hole cut. 2015 champion Jorge Garcia is tied for 45th at one under. 2014 champ Gabriel Lench also missed the cut.
ROUND TWO RECAP
Englishman Harry Hall fired a 7-under 63 to surge into the lead at the midway point of the South Beach International Amateur. Hall sits at 12-under and he will carry a two-stroke lead into the third round over first round leader Travis Vick who is 10-under.
Playing the second round at Normandy Shores Golf Course, Hall played a flawless round of golf that included seven birdies. The UNLV junior recorded his first birdie on No. 2 and then followed that up with a birdie on the ensuing hole to quickly reach 7-under for the tournament.
With momentum now on his side Hall continued to play lights out golf adding birdies on Nos. 8, 9, 12, 15 and 16.
Uncommitted high school Travis Vick played Normandy Shores Golf Course as well and one day after taking the lead with a 9-under 62 at the Miami Beach Golf Club he shot a 1-under 69 that leaves him still very much within striking distance. Vick would have been tied for the lead at the midway point had it not been for a double-bogey on the 18th hole. Vick carded four birdies and a bogey as well during the round.
Riley Elmes of Loyola Marymount is in third place four off the pace at 8-under while BYU's Peter Kuest and 2018 Texas commit Parker Coody share fourth at 7-under.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Paced by a blistering 8-under 29 on the back nine Travis Vick is leading the way after a picture perfect day one at the South Beach International Amateur. Vick, 9-under overall, is ahead of two others by three-strokes with still three rounds remaining.
From Hunters Creek Valley, TX the uncommitted high school junior put together a steady front nine with birdies on Nos. 1 and 2 to reach 2-under and after a bogey on the 5th he turned to the second nine at Miami Beach Golf Club in 1-under.
Once on the back nine Vick really found his grove beginning with an eagle on the par-5 10th that was followed by consecutive birdies on the 12th and 13th holes to jump to 4-under. Following a par on No. 14 Vick sprinted to the finish line with four consecutive birdies.
Three back of Vick in a tie for second place at 6-under are NC State junior Stephen Franken and Barry University junior Niclas Weiland.
Franken made his way to the top of the leaderboard with three birdies and the always rare albatross on the 553 yard par-5 15th. The All-ACC performer from a year ago jarred his double-eagle with a 4-iron approach.
For Weiland, who carded the low round of the day on the Normandy Shores Golf Course, it was a bit of an up and down day that included 10 birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey. The PING First-Team All-American from a year ago played his best golf of the round from Nos. 5-17, a stretch he played in 7-under.
Heading into Wednesday's second round seven players are tied for fourth at 5-under with another seven players sharing 11th at 4-under.
ABOUT THE
South Beach International
72-hole event with 36-hole cut. Open to
highly
ranked amateurs, college players, mid-amateurs
and juniors. Non-exempt players must submit a playing
resume to be considered for the field.
View Complete Tournament Information