Lakeville, MA-Billy Downes followed up an opening round of even par 72 with a 4-under par 68 to take a one shot lead heading into the final round of the inaugural LeBaron Hills Open. Jerry Courville and Sean O’Hair, Downes’ playing partners for the first two days, sit one and two shots back, respectively. 2004 Providence champion Kyle Gallo lies one shot further back after a 3-under par 69.

            Downes offset a double bogey on the par 4, 6^th hole with three front nine birdies en route to making the turn in 1-under par 35. Following five consecutive pars to begin the backside, he recorded three more birdies on his final four holes. “It doesn’t hurt watching Courville and O’Hair make birdies all day,” said Downes.

            Despite a sore back, Courville still had the strength to notch three birdies and an eagle on the par 5, 10^th hole against no bogies on his way to climbing fourteen places on the leaderboard. “Maybe I’m on to something,” said a hopeful Courville, a quarterfinalist in the 2003 U.S. Amateur.

            Following yesterday’s disappointing round of 76, his highest score in over two months, O’Hair cited a change in course strategy as the reason for his six birdie, no bogey round of 6-under par 66. “I didn’t play the course correctly yesterday,” said O’Hair, who wisely chose to lay up with irons off of several tees today instead of hitting driver. As for tomorrow, O’Hair is not going to waiver from his strategy to play conservatively. “I’m not a guy who can go out there and force things to happen.”

            First round leader Todd Westfall followed up his opening 69 with a 72. Meanwhile, Kyle Gallo and Jesse Fitzgerald, both of whom competed in the Reese’ Classic on the Nationwide Tour two weeks ago, will play together in the third to last group.
            Seven players managed to break 70 on day two compared to just one the first day. Twenty-seven players survived the 36 hole cut, which fell at 6-over par 150. A purse of $61,200 and a winner’s check of $11,300 are at stake in tomorrow’s final round, which begins at 8 am.