Carlton Woods Invitational: After long day, Wheeler, Ortego lead
After a long day at a tough Nicklaus Course at The Club at Carlton Woods, a pair of Texans will take leads into the final round of the Carlton Woods Invitational.
A line of thunderstorms moved through the area on day one of the three-day championship, altering the schedule and forcing the Committee to scramble for a solution to complete 54 holes in each division.
The seniors were able to complete their first round on Tuesday, and finish their second rounds on schedule today. The mid-amateurs played 36 holes today, turning the tournament into a bit of an endurance test as the three rounds will have been played in just over 24 hours' time.
Chris Wheeler (Addison, Texas) is the 36-hole leader after rounds of 67-74 (-3). Wheeler won the Texas Mid-Amateur in 2019 and made a great run at the Texas Amateur earlier that summer, finishing solo second.
He'll carry a one-stroke lead into the final round over Harley Abrams (Tulsa, Okla.), a former Northwestern University golfer who is playing his first CWI. Abrams was the only mid-am to break par in both rounds, shooting back-to-back 71s. Scott Maurer of Dallas is the only other player under par after two rounds, two shots back at 1 under.
Jeronimo Esteve (Windermere, Fla.) and reigning Texas Mid-Am Match Play champ Aaron Hickman (Tyler, Texas) are tied for fourth at even par. Two-time CWI champion Colby Harwell (San Antonio, Texas) and Birmingham National Invitational winner Brad Nurski (St. Joseph, Mo.) are tied for sixth at 2 over.
In the Senior Division, David Ortego (Spring, Texas) shot consecutive rounds of 70 to take a four-shot lead into the final round at 4 under par. Larry Nunez (Austin, Texas) and William Mitchell (Atlanta, Ga.) are tied for second at even par. Mitchell is coming off of a strong 4th place finish at the Timuquana Cup earlier this week.
The defending champion Lewis Stephenson (Burleson, Texas) is another shot behind, tied with Randy Haag (Orinda, Calif.) at 1 over.
ABOUT THE
Carlton Woods Invitational
A 54-hole stroke play golf
tournament
played at The Club at Carlton Woods in the
beautiful
Houston community of The Woodlands,
where
golf is one of the top activities. Entry into the
Carlton
Woods Invitational is strictly
by invitation from the Tournament Committee. The
90-player field will be
comprised of two tournament divisions, a Mid-Am
Division for players aged 25-54,
and a Senior Division for players aged 55 and above.
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