Ethan Evans (Southern Golf Association Photo)

Evans, a rising junior at Duke, recorded eight birdies in the second round to take a one-shot lead.

“It was a solid day all around,” said Evans. “I’m just going to try and keep the same mindset [going into the final two rounds], have good composure on the course and take it shot by shot.”

Quinnton Croker is in solo second place after posting a second-round 5-under 65 and an overall score of 9-under, just one shot back of Evans.

Buck Brumlow, Michael Mays, Billy Davis, Tobias Jonsson, Ben James, Lance Simpson, and Jack Turner are all T3 and 7-under, just three shots back of Evans. James, a 2023 Walker Cupper, is currently ranked No. 3 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings and is the highest-ranked player in the field.

The field was cut to the low 50 and ties. The cutline fell at three-under 137, and 54 players advanced to the final two rounds.

According to the Southern Golf Association, the field's average score was 69.87, with 21 eagles and 562 birdies posted in the second round. 76 players broke par.

The Southern Golf Association is one of the oldest—dating back to its Charter in 1902—the largest—serving approximately 500 member clubs over a 14-state area—and the most prestigious golf associations in the world.

The Southern Amateur dates back to 1902, and its Champions Roster is like reading a Who's Who of competitive golf. Leading this group is Robert T. (Bobby) Jones, Jr., who was the Southern Amateur Champion in 1917, 1920, and 1922.

Others who have won or finished in a challenging position and gone on to national and/or international prominence include Tommy Barnes, Dale Morey, Don January, Gay Brewer, Doug Sanders, Billy Joe Patton, Lew Oehmig, Hubert Green, Downing Gray, Marvin (Vinny) Giles, Lanny Wadkins, Steve Melnyk, Tom Kite, John Mahaffey, Ben Crenshaw, Gary Koch, Bill Rogers, Gil Morgan, Danny Edwards, Andy Bean, Vance Haefner, Jerry Pate, Chip Beck, David Edwards, Jay Sigel, Bob Tway, Mark Brooks, Gene Sauers, Davis Love, and more recently, Justin Leonard and Allen Doyle.