Brown maintains Met Open lead with second straight 69
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (August 23, 2016) – A second consecutive round of 1-under 69 at Glen Oaks Club helped Tam O’Shanter head professional Mark Brown maintain his lead at the 101st Met Open Championship on Tuesday. Many other players on the top of the leaderboard are currently on the course during the afternoon wave of play.
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“It was definitely a little lighter on the winds, but still tricky winds out there with the pins where they are and a couple tees pushed back,” remarked Brown following his second-straight sub-par score. “It played a little bit easier, but I wouldn’t say a whole lot easier.”
Though he missed several greens in the early going, Brown was able to rely upon his short game to save par and maintain his lead. Despite the slow start, Brown settled in and closed strong with three birdies over his final eight holes.
Brown’s putting served as the key again Tuesday and, though he got off to a slow start, he settled in and closed strong with three birdies over his final eight holes—including one on the challenging par-4 18th.
Kevin Foley of Neshanic Valley, who opened with a 2-over 72, also had a sluggish start, standing at 4-over through seven holes of play. However, the Web.com Tour player and 2008 Ike champion caught fire on the inward nine.
“I started to hit some good quality golf shots on the back nine to set up some looks and opportunities and was able to end up balancing it out, grabbing four birdies on the back to shoot even,” Foley remarked. “It was nice to fight back to kind of be somewhat in the mix tomorrow.”
Through 36 holes, Foley’s 2-over 142 stands four shots behind Brown, but he’s looking forward to the opportunity heading into the final round. “Similar,” Foley said in reply to what his plan was for Wednesday. “Just try to stay steady and patient and see where it falls at the end of the day. I was happy to finish strong there.”
Cameron Young of Sleepy Hollow carded a 3-over 73 on Tuesday, tallying a two-day total of 143.
Meanwhile, Mike Miller of Knollwood registered the championship’s low score with a 2-under 68, carding four birdies and a double bogey on the day.
“Today I kept the ball below the hole—yesterday I was above the hole all day and unfortunately had too many putts,” he said, referencing his opening round 77. “I hit the ball a lot closer today, which gave me a lot more opportunities—it could have been something special. I know it’s playing extremely difficult out there if you’re in the wrong spot, so it should move me up the leaderboard.”
A host of players currently on the course are well within range of Brown, and look to improve their position heading into Wednesday’s final round.
At the conclusion of 36 holes, a cut will be made to the low 60 scores and ties.