Sands leads, Cowan closes gap in Trans-Miss Amateur at Southern Hills
Parker Sands of Edmond battled a wayward driver, but two late birdies pushed him to a 1-under-par round of 70 as he maintained a one-shot lead in the Trans-Miss Amateur at Southern Hills.
Combined with his opening round of 64, Sands moved to 8-under-par as the field was cut to the low 54 and ties for Thursday’s third round. The championship will conclude with 18 holes Friday.
Sands leads Zihang Mike Qui of Notre Dame (65-70) and Chun-Ta Wu of the University of Minnesota (68-67) by a shot as both golfers reached 7-under. They will be paired together in the 9:40 a.m. tee time off the first tee today.
Moving into strong contention alone in fourth place is another Edmond representative in Ryder Cowan, the University of Oklahoma senior who recently tied for low amateur in the U.S. Open. Cowan has shot consecutive rounds of 3-under 68 and is 6-under. He will be paired with Cole Starnes and Max Emberson, who each shot 6-under 65 Wednesday after opening with rounds of 73. Starnes plays collegiately for Indiana while Emberson had signed with OU before opting to follow former coach Ryan Hybl to Georgia Tech.
Scoring conditions remained ideal with little wind and greens softened by recent rains. A light shower Thursday morning will have the players seeking otherwise risky pins again today.
Among other players with state ties to advance, current Sooner Clark Van Gaalen is tied for 35th at 1-over. Southern Hills member and University of Tulsa commit Coleman Sides made the cut on the number at 2-over after rounds of 70-74.
Missing the cut were Edmond’s C.J. Phillips (72-74) and Southern Hills member and OU commit Banks Cozby (81-68). New OU coach and former NCAA champion Jonathan Moore shot 76-82. Southern Hills member and former Sooner Parker Foster shot shot 85-79.
– Ken MacLeod