Photo by Kasey Hine/NAPGT :: Story by Stacia Golem/NAPGT
ATKINSON, NH (June 8, 2007) – Tying the Atkinson Course record of 64, Mark DiGiacomo set the tone for day two coming in at seven under par overall, jumping from twenty-third yesterday to first place today. “I hit the ball well and didn’t really get in any trouble,” DiGiacomo said. “Just solid playing all around,” he said.
Matthew Donovan, who fired a 68 to come in at six under, felt that he was a little more patient today. After starting a little shaky the first few holes, he birdied five, kept it steady, then birdied nine and ten. He shot par through the back nine and finished up birdie birdie. “I didn’t make any mistakes that were drastic,” he said. “And if I did I recovered pretty well.”
Another significant jump from day one to day two came from Geoffrey Sisk who held third at five under, compared to eleventh yesterday. Sisk attributed his six birdies and one bogie to greater concentration. “My mind yesterday was more thinking about next week,” he said, alluding to his qualification for the U.S. Open on June 11-17 at Oakmont, PA. “But this is the priority right now; next week will be the priority when I get there,” Sisk said.
Sound playing by those who struggled yesterday hiked them up the ranks and brought about this interesting turn of events where yesterday’s leaders fell behind. Michael Harris, who led the pack on day one with four under par shot even today and tied for fourth (with Andrew Svoboda).
“I’m actually surprised the scores went up today a little bit,” said Eric Egloff, who came in sixth today with three under, moving up two spots from yesterday. “But I guess when you’re playing well the course always seems like it’s easy.”
Sisk, on the other hand, knew he had to step up his game and at least be five or six under to be near the top. “I was starting to think about it halfway through the back side, so I ended up making a good birdie on 18 to end up five under today,” he said.
Sisk’s calculation seemed to be right on, but even he couldn’t predict DiGiacomo’s record-tying score to put him on the top of the leader board heading into day three. “I’ve never been there before in one of these events,” DiGiacomo said. “I’ve got to play my best and hopefully the best will happen.”
Of the original 61-player field only 26 players will go on to day three; the cut line was 147, four over par.
