CHICAGO, Ill. – Behind a bogey-free four-under 67 in Wednesday’s second round, Arkansas men’s golf junior-to-beNicolas Echavarria finished tied for seventh after the opening two rounds of stroke play at the 112th Western Amateur to advance to Thursday’s final two rounds of stroke play at The Beaver Country Club.
The field of 156, which includes 50 of the world’s top 100 players, was cut down to the low 44 scores and ties following Wednesday’s round. The low 44 scores and ties will take the course again on Thursday for 36 holes of stroke play which will determine the top 16 players that will move on to match play.
Echavarria found himself just inside the top 44 scores cut to begin the day after a first round one-under 70 on Tuesday. Playing in one of the final groups to take the course on Wednesday, Echavarria navigated the 7,016-yard Donald Ross design with a bogey-free 67 that moved him up 13 spots on the leaderboard into a tie for seventh. Echavarria did his damage on the back nine, carding three consecutive birdies on holes 12-14 – none of which are par 5s – en route to shooting a 32 on the side.
Echavarria will enter the third round of stroke play with plenty of momentum, playing his last 22 holes bogey-free with five birdies. He is one of just 14 players in the field to finish under-par in each of the first two rounds.
Fellow junior-to-be Taylor Moore opened with an even-par 71 in Tuesday’s first round, but fell just short of the low 44-scores cut after a three-over 74 on Wednesday.
For more information on Arkansas men’s golf, follow @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.