By Staff
BENTON HARBOR – Western Amateur leader Richard Scott described his 1-under-par 69 Thursday as "nothing special."
Considering the circumstances, Scott's self-assessment may have been a bit modest.
A three-hour, five-minute weather delay pushed Scott's scheduled early morning tee time back to 11:29 a.m., and for the first few holes, the more than two inches of rain that fell on the Point O'Woods G. &C.C. grounds overnight made for some soggy lies.
When the back end of the slow-moving storm front finally blew through, swirling winds kept players fighting to land their shots in the fairways and on the greens.
Through it all, Scott managed a pair of birdies, a lone bogey and a 36-hole total of 5-under-par 135 to take the clubhouse lead with 40 players still on the course when play ended due to darkness.
"It was tough," Scott said. "Some (shots) were plugging at the start. Right when we made the turn, the wind picked up. It's playing as long as it could possibly play."
Scott credited an improved putting stroke with vaulting him to the top of the Western Amateur leader board after tying for 40th in the Porter Cup a week ago.
"I'm putting better. Some of them (putts) are falling now, so that helps," said Scott, 22, of Kingsville, Ontario, Canada.
A Western Amateur Sweet 16 match play qualifier in 2003 and 2005, Scott has confidence in his play on Point O'Woods' challenging par 70, 7,032 layout. "I've played well in the past here. I like the golf course so much," he said. "I think I do better on a harder golf course. I enjoy playing the tougher courses."
Scott, a 2005 and 2006 honorable mention All-American at the University of Georgia, helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2005 NCAA Championship. He finished his eligibility this spring but plans to return to Georgia in the fall to earn a December 2006 degree. He plans to turn professional either in January 2007 or when he enters 2007 PGA TOUR Qualifying School.
Play in round two will resume at 8:30 a.m. Friday, with the field then cut to the low 50 and ties.