Gallo Breaks Day Old Course Record with 65 to take 4 Shot Lead

            South Burlington, Vt-Kyle Gallo fired a 7-under par 65 and broke Johnny Bloomfield’s day old course record in the second round of the Cleveland Golf Tour’s Vermont National Open to take a four shot lead. Julian Trudeau, making his debut on the Cleveland Golf Tour, fashioned a 3-under par 69 and sits three shots back. Noah Zelnik carded his second consecutive 69 and is tied for third with Jesse Smith and Paul Dickinson. Vermont Open champion Sean O’Hair cared a fine 69 in high winds and sits one shot further back at 5-under par. Early morning rains softened the course for a brief period before windy conditions returned Vermont National to its usual fast and firm conditions.

            Gallo erased Johnny Bloomfield’s day old course record on the strength of six birdies and an eagle at the par five 7^th hole. For the day, he played the five par 5’s 6-under par. “I was happy with the way I stayed patient one through 18,” said Gallo. As for tomorrow’s final round, he will not change his strategy despite a comfortable four stroke lead. “I have a game plan and I’m going to stick with it.”

            Trudeau, who teed off late and had to contend with Vermont National’s pesky high winds, offset bogies at the par three 13^th and 17^th holes with three birdies and an eagle at the par five 7^th hole. “This is a good way to start off the summer,” he said. “I’m excited to be playing with all of these good players,” he added.

            4 shots back, Smith, Dickinson, and Zelnik all possess the ability to make up ground in a hurry. In the second round alone, Smith recorded five birdies and an eagle.   Dickinson rallied from a front nine of 2-over and made three birdies and an eagle in a back nine 32. Zelnik, meanwhile, credited an early morning trip to a local grocery store to pick up bananas as the reason for his two birdie, two eagle performance.

            Overnight leader Johnny Bloomfield ballooned to a 6-over par 78 and sits at 144 with Marc Lawless, who rallied with a second day 68. “A few bad swings on three shots and that was it,” said Bloomfield.

            With windy conditions forecast for tomorrow’s final round, Vermont National should not be the pushover that it was the first two rounds when the course record was rewritten twice and 23 players were at par or better following a first round that was played under benign conditions. A purse of $62,100 is at stake, with the winner receiving $11,500.