Whaley Leads After 36 Holes at MGA Mid-Amateur in Alexandria

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By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  ALEXANDRIA, Minn. – On a difficult day of scoring at the 2013 Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship at Alexandria and Geneva Golf Clubs, Tom Whaley clings to a one-stroke lead Thursday after he posted a 3-over par 75.

Just two golfers of the 120-player field managed to break into red scores Thursday as the top 60 scores, plus ties, made the cut for Friday’s final round.

Playing the Alexandria Golf Club Friday, Whaley got out to a quick start with a birdie on the third hole but struggled on the remainder of the front nine.

Whaley, Minneapolis Golf Club, had three consecutive bogeys to move him back to 2-over for the round before another bogey at the par-4 eighth hole dropped him to 3-over. Whaley, the 2009 Mid-Amateur winner started back in the right direction with a birdie on the par-5 12th hole to get back to 2-over.

After five straight pars, Whaley ended his round with a bogey on the final hole to finish at 3-over par but holds a slim one-stroke lead at even par 145 for the tournament.

Jesse Bull, Golden Valley Golf and Country Club, was one of two players to post a round below par as Bull carded a 3-under par 70 Thursday at the Geneva Golf Club to leap into a tie for second place after a less than stellar opening round of 76 Wednesday.

The former University of North Dakota hockey player opened the round with a birdie on the first hole but it was nullified with a bogey on the third as he remained even.

Bull would make the turn at 1-under after rolling in a birdie putt on the par-5 ninth hole, then with back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th, Bull quickly found himself at 3-under for the day. He got to 4-under with a birdie at the par-5 11th hole but gave a stroke back with a bogey on the 14th.

Bull made his sixth birdie of the round on the 16th but would end his day at 3-under with a bogey on the final hole as he enters Friday’s final round one stroke behind Whaley at 1-over par 146.

Ken Basten, Wild Marsh Golf Club, David Steingart, Edina Country Club, and Will Hickey, StoneRidge Golf Club are also tied at 1-over par 146 going to the final round Friday.

Jerry Rose, Alexandria Golf Club, Bob Cavanagh, Perham Lakeside Golf Club, Jesse Larson, LeSueur Country Club and Josh Blackman, Mankato Golf Club, will all begin Friday’s round two-strokes behind Whaley as all four currently sit tied for sixth at 147.

Friday’s final round tee times will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Alexandria Golf Club, with the final group set to begin at 10:10 a.m.

Tournament Info & Complete Results