Blumenfeld Builds On Lead At State Amateur

MARLTON, N.J. Jay Blumenfeld of Mountain Ridge added a 74 today to his opening round 70 for a combined 144 (+2) and a six stroke lead halfway through the NJSGA’s 107th Amateur Championship at Little Mill Country Club. This 6,803 yard track, played on the Devil’s Glen (Red) and Little Mill (White) nines, did not roar as fiercely as it did in the opening round on Tuesday, when hard greens and windy conditions repelled all but the most precise of shots. Thanks to an overnight rain and some added drizzle this morning, the greens were significantly softer and more conducive to scoring today. The fact that Blumenfeld shot the low score of the Championship so far on Tuesday is a testament to how superbly he played.

A pair of Tavistock golfers, Tom Gramigna and Jamie Slonis, sit in second place six strokes back at 150 (+8). Two Little Mill members are also in the hunt: 2006 Amateur Champion Chris Gold, at 151 (+9), and 1998 Amateur Champion Mike Hyland, at 152 (+10). The first page of the leaderboard also includes perennial favorite Allan Small of Fairmount and Sean Leonard of Tavistock at 151, and Marc Issler of Pine Barrens and Louis Giovi of Mercer Oaks at 152. Click on the Live Scoring link on the home page to see full field results.

Defending Champion Bill McGuinness of Tavistock restored his chances to contend by following up his opening round 79 with a 76 today, for a two-round total of 155 (+13).

The stage is set for an exciting conclusion on Thursday, the 36-hole finale, with so many prominent names in contention. Blumenfeld may have built a six stroke lead, but the strength of his challengers could make for a tight race for the Edwin M. Wild Championship Trophy.

Scenes from the State Amateur Championship (Photos Courtesy of Barry Goldenberg)