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| (Par 3, 13th hole at Twisted Dune) |
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (October 4, 2006) – Rob Oppenheim of Andover, Mass., shot a 6-under par 66 on Wednesday to open a one-shot lead following the second round of the New England Pro Golf Tour’s season-ending Greater Atlantic City Open.
Oppenheim birdied seven of his first 10 holes at Twisted Dune Golf Club and will seek his second straight wire-to-wire victory on Thursday in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Second on the Tour’s money list, Oppenheim won last week’s Pinehills Open by four shots.
Michael Harris of Shorewood, Wis., winner of the recent Captains Open, also shot a 66 on Wednesday and is one behind Oppenheim’s 11-under par lead. Kevin Silva of New Bedford, Mass., shot a 65 and trails by two.
“It was nice to shoot 66, but I felt like this could have been a really low one,’’ said Oppenheim, who three-putted two or the par-5s. “But I’ve put myself in good position for Thursday, and it would be nice to finish the season with a win.’’
The second annual 54-hole event, which concludes Thursday, features a number of former PGA Tour members and some of golf’s rising stars, including 12 players from New Jersey, competing for a $110,700 purse.
Martin Catalioto of Ramsey, N.J., one of the leading candidates for Tour Rookie of the Year honors, shot 68 on Tuesday and is among four players from New Jersey to make the 1-over par cut. The others include Eugene Smith of Glen Ridge (-4), Charles Kromann of Perrineville (-2) and Matthew Gaffney of Blackwood (+1).
Five players are tied at 7-under par: Mike Calef of West Bridgewater, Mass.; Shannon Sykora of Davie, Fla.; Marc Lawless of Concord, Mass., Billy Downes of Longmeadow, Mass.; and Josh Allard of Portsmouth, N.H.
Tour money leader Geoffrey Sisk, who has four wins in 2006, shot a 1-under 71 and is 1-under par overall. On Thursday, Oppenheim and Harris will attempt to join Sisk as the only multiple winners on tour this season.
Harris put himself in that position with birdies on four of his first seven holes and an eagle at the par-5 18th on Wednesday.
“It was a hot start, kind of hung out for a while, then finished off pretty well,’’ Harris said. “I’ll try to keep it going on Thursday.’’