Reid Davenport
By Rick Woelfel
Chun An Yu and Reid Davenport opened some eyes and turned some heads on Thursday during the second round of the 61st Porter Cup.
Not only that, they share the 36-hole lead. Yu, an Arizona State player from Taiwan, carded a 7-under 63 at Niagara Falls Country Club, the low round of the week to this point while Davenport, from Austin, Texas, finished with a 5-under par 65.
The pair stand at 8-under 132 for 36 holes.
Their closest pursuer, Jimmy Hervol of Hopkinton, Mass. is two shots back at 6-under par 134 after a 65 of his own. Ethan Ng of New York City is at 5-under 135 after a 68.
Six players are at 136 including Aidan Didone (Malvern East, Victoria), Scott Harvey (Kernersville, N.C.), Noah Norton (Chico, Cal.), John Pak (Scotch Plains, N.J.), Davis Lamb (Potomac, Md.), and Tyler Strafaci (Davie, Fla.).
Davenport, a sophomore at Vanderbilt, went out in 2-under 33 before making birdies at Nos. 10, 11, and 13. The only blemish on his card was a bogey at the par-4 sixth when he barely missed the green and three-putted from the fringe.
Davenport said his good start was the key to his round.
“Whether it’s the first couple holes or the first round of tournaments, it’s important for me to get off to a good start,” he said. “It’s a good feeling to get a couple or a few under par for the first round and build off of that. It’s important for me.”
Davenport prides himself on playing sound, strategic golf.
“I’ve been taught to play golf like that,” he said. “I’ve been taught to go at pins that I know I can go at, hit shots that I know how to hit, don’t hit shots that you think you can hit or think the shot (sets up) for it. I’m really built on taking chances when they’re there and taking my medicine when I need to.”
Chun continued the tear he has been on all year. He concluded a first-team All-American junior season at Arizona State by placing third at the NCAA Championships. From there, he earned medalist honors at his U.S. Open sectional in Southern California (at Newport Beach Country Club and Big Canyon Country Club). Before heading to Pebble Beach to play in the Open proper (he missed the cut by three shots) he competed in the Palmer Cup.
Chun started his day Thursday by going out in 3-under 32, then recording four straight birdies on holes 10-13 before concluding his round with five straight pars.
Hervol was solid on his opening nine, making the turn in 4-under par 31. He recorded two more birdies coming in before ending his day with a bogey at the par-3 finisher.
Ng went out in even-par 35 before birdies at 11 and 15 put him under par for the day.
Twenty-two players are under par through 36 holes. Miguel Delgado withdrew, leaving 87 players on hand in Lewiston, N.Y., for the final two days.
ABOUT THE
Porter Cup
One of the premier amateur events in the
nation, this 72-hole stroke play invitational has
lots of extra activities that give this event a special
flavor. The winning player receives a green blazer, as
well as an invitation to the Master of the Amateurs
tournament in Melbourne, Australia. Pre-tournament
qualifying is a few weeks prior to the
event and approximately five spots are available.
Starting in 2023, the men's and women's
Porter Cup championships are run concurrently with
54 players in each field and alternating
tee times. It's been exciting seeing the top players in each division in final pairings on the par-3 18th hole at Niagara Falls CC, with large galleries always appreciative of the rising talent.
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