Photo by Kasey Hine/NAPGT :: Story by Matt Byrne/NAPGT
August 29, 2007 (Plymouth, MA)-Matt Donovan broke away from the pack today, distinguishing himself by carding a pair of 67’s in the past two days. Standing at ten under par for the tournament going into the final round he is one shot ahead of his closest competitor.
Modesty was Donovan’s tune when asked if his ball striking and scoring could get any better. Solid swings and consistent putting have placed him in the lead, but the ascent was not without some turbulence; one bogey yesterday and another today left the Pittsfield pro cautious.
“I bogeyed my last hole from the fairway. I had a four iron in. [It was a] tough hole today- and [I] made a good bogey actually,” said Donovan. “Other than that, a couple of missed chances, but [I] made a couple of putts, so all in all it’s fair. I’m pleased.”
Conditions on the 7243 yard Nicklaus course could not have been better, said many players. Temperatures hovered around 80 with little moisture in the air as the steady breeze cooled the field of 71. Greens rolled at a true 11 on the stimp meter, giving many players confidence around the greens.
Holding second place all by his lonesome is Nick Cook, the 6′5″ Georgetown grad, who fired 67-68, 135 for the tournament.
Cook said his all-around play was not exceptional. “I actually didn’t make any long putts, but I hit four wedges inside six feet,” he said. Solid short putting led to four birdies on the back nine alone.
Some of the regular heavy hitters were absent from the top of the board this week. Goeffrey Sisk is tied for twelfth at two under, 142, just two strokes away from missing the cut, which fell this week at even par, 144. Dustin Cone’s second round 67 was not enough to make up for his solid, if not stellar, 72 even-par performance yesterday.
Both Jesse Smith and Dan Walters are tied for third place at eight under par, 136, for the tournament. Variety was the spice of Smith’s life today, when he shot 68 while making four birdies, two bogeys and one eagle. “I had a couple of sloppy bogeys out there,” said Smith. He capitalized on all of the par fives, making birdie or better on each.
Missing the cut was Anna Grzebien, the 22-year-old Duke female-phenomenon who has impressed many of her male colleagues so far this season. Although she won’t be playing tomorrow, she managed to card a one under, 71 today, besting a solid portion of the field. Grzebien made a splash this month when she took the Mass. Women’s Open by storm for a second year in a row, defending her title after her win last year as a college senior.
Tee times resume for the 27 players tomorrow at 7:30.
