Philo storms to fore in N.E. Open
There was fog at the beginning, a blazing sun by midday, and a blistering pace courtesy of Ron Philo Jr. by the end of yesterday's second round of the New England Open at Lake Winnipesaukee GC in New Durham, N.H.
Though the leaderboard had the complexion of a Cleveland Golf Tour event, what with five members near the top, the day belonged to arguably the New England PGA's finest player, Philo, the teaching pro at The Kittansett Club in Marion. Backing up his opening 66 with a 5-under-par 67, Philo pushed to 11-under 133 at the halfway point, three shots clear of Drew Mayhew (67) and Marc Lawless (69).
Both Mayhew and Lawless are regulars on the CGT, a New England-based summer minitour that schedules its events around tournaments such as this to give its players more chances to play.
Mayhew and Lawless saw plenty of familiar faces, for Corey Brigham posted a 67--137 to get into sole possession of fourth, while two other CGT members, Brian Lamberti (69) and David Schuster (69) settled into a tie for fifth at 138.
Todd Vernon, the 2002 champion who shared the first-round lead with Philo, shot 75--141 and dropped into a tie for 12th.
Philo's round featured three birdies going out on the back, then three more on the front, all on par 5s. His lone bogey came at the fourth, a long par 3.
Fifty golfers made the cut and will return for today's final round of this $150,000 tournament.
US Men's Mid-Amateur -- The last of the local hopefuls was knocked out in Chattanooga, Tenn., as Brendan Hester of Northbridge lost, 7 and 6, to Michael McCoy in the quarterfinals. McCoy, from West Des Moines, Iowa, won the first two holes with pars, then birdied the fourth to go 3 up. With Hester struggling, McCoy kept the pressure on and sealed the victory with birdies at the 11th and 12th holes.
McCoy perhaps should have saved some of those birdies, because in the afternoon semifinal he was ousted by Carlton Forrester, 1 up. Forrester will play Kevin Marsh, a 2 and 1 winner over Steven Liebler, in today's 36-hole championship.
US Women's Mid-Amateur -- At Richmond, Texas, Kerry Postillion continued her quest to be the first medalist winner since 2000, posting a 2-and-1 semifinal victory over Virginia Derby Grimes.
Mary Ann Lapointe also advanced with a 1-up win over Robin Burke.
