Paul McBeth cooled down during Round 2 of the USDGC on Thursday with a 60 (-7), but it was still enough to keep a fairly comfortable lead over second place, which shifted to JohnE McCray, who is five strokes back of McBeth’s (-21) for the Championship.
Others still in it are: Patrick Brown (-15 ), 2-time US Champ Will Schusterick and Nate Sexton are both at (-13), and Jussi Meresmaa sits at (-12).
McCray – a masters aged player who’s had some impressive open finishes this season – made a big jump up the leaderboard by shooting a 58 (-9).
“(I’m) trying to catch up to Paul. Trying to claw my way back into it,” said McCray after the round.
McBeth was cruising for most of the front nine until he scored a triple bogey on Hole 9. The back nine he regrouped scoring five birdies.
Two-time US Champ Will Schusterick also made a large leap of his own with a (-8) on Thursday.
Though mostly satisfied with his round, Schusterick said he still wants to recommit himself to his game plan after straying from it a few times and losing strokes. When asked if he felt he was within striking distance after his round he replied:
“I think you’re always within striking distance out here because there’s a lot of risk-reward,” said Schusterick, who birdied seven of the first nine holes.
Steve Rico, who was tied for 4th before Thursday’s round, said he needs to make up strokes fast after his (-3) on Thursday.
“I’m so far out of it now that I’ll be attacking the course tomorrow,” said Rico, who tied for 2nd at last year’s event.
Ace Alert: Mike Milne had an ace on Hole 3 on Thursday.
