PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Former MLB pitcher Mark Mulder turned in the low round of the Golf Channel Am Tour National Championships today, carding an even-par 72 at Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass and moving up from 29th to 8th place at 10-over in the Championship Flight.
Missoula, Mont. resident Brian Beach extended his opening round lead to two today in the Championship Flight (handicap range 3.9 or less) following his second-round 73 at the Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass. Beach leads by two over Jeffrey Perkins (Glen Burnie, Md.) and Paxton Song (Los Altos, Calif.) in the Championship Flight. Ted Embry (Newport Beach, Calif.) recorded the first double eagle in Golf Channel Am Tour National Championship history today on No. 12 at Dye’s Valley en route to a 1-over 73 to stand in fourth place.
Also leading their respective flights after the second round include Michael Stephanik (Monroe, N.J., Palmer Flight); Robert Simpkiss (Palmer, Mass., Hogan Flight); Tj Dunhoft (Florence, Ky., Sarazen Flight), Kenneth Ambrosio (White Plains, N.Y., Sarazen Flight) and Dag Rasen ( Palmer Harbor, Fla., Sarazen Flight); Richard Kelley (Katy, Texas, Jones Flight.); and Scott Fjelstad (Trabuco Canyon, Calif., Snead Flight).
They are among the record 635 competitors representing 39 U.S. States, Canada and Puerto Rico competing this week for national championship honors. The 72-hole tournament, broken up into six divisions, is taking place on four Ponte Vedra Beach area courses headlined by famed TPC Sawgrass. The national championships kicked off today and will conclude Thursday.
Information on the round two leaders in the six flights appear below:
Championship Flight (<3.9)
1 Brian Beach Missoula, Mont. 73-73--146 +2
T2 Jeffrey Perkins Glen Burnie, Md. 74-74--148 +4
T2 Paxton Song Los Altos, Calif. 76-72--148 +4
4 Ted Embry Newport Beach, Calif. 76-73--149 +5
Palmer Flight (4-7.9)
1 Michael Stephanik Monroe, N.J. 80-73--153 +9
2 Charles Sponaugle Simpsonville, S.C. 77-80--157 +13
3 Rocky Jones Platte City, Mo. 80-78--158 +14
Hogan (8-11.9)
1 Robert Simpkiss Palmer, Wash. 81-74--155 +13
2 Randall Ricker Coral Springs, Fla. 79-79--158 +16
T3 Steven Paul Waltham, Mass. 76-83--159 +17
T3 Jeff Blackwood Midland, Texas 82-77--159 +17
Sarazen (12-15.9)
T1 Tj Dunhoft Florence, Ky. 86-77--163 +21
T1 Kenneth Ambrosio White Plains, N.Y. 76-87--163 +21
T3 Dag A Rasen Palm Harbor, Fla. 81-82--163 +21
Jones (16-19.9)
1 Richard Kelley Katy, Texas 86-86--172 +28
2 Rick Ramsey Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 91-83--174 +30
3 Danny Anderson Tallahassee, Fla. 93-85--178 +34
Snead (20+)
1 Scott Fjelstad Trabuco Canyon, Calif. 82-95--177 +35
2 Enrique Montero Springfield, Va. 87-94--181 +39
3 Don Fiets Valparaiso, Ind. 92-91--183 +41
Former Major League Baseball pitcher while Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez followed up his opening round 83 with a 91 at the PLAYERS Stadium Course stand T-52 in the Palmer Flight after round two.
The Golf Channel Am Tour National Championships are divided into two events – the Senior National Championship (age 50+), which took place Sept. 4-7, and the Open National Championship, taking place Sept. 10-13. The PLAYERS Stadium Course and neighboring Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass, along with Ponte Vedra Inn and Club’s Lagoon Course and Ocean Course, are serving as host courses for the Golf Channel Am Tour National Championships, featuring a record combined field of 1,135 golfers. Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa serves as host resort and tournament headquarters.
All six national champions from the 2011 Golf Channel Am Tour National Championships are defending their titles this week:
• Paul Erdman, Erie, Colo. (Championship Flight)
• Patrick Polzin, Indian Head Park, Ill. (Palmer Flight)
• Tim Williams, McKinney, Texas (Hogan Flight)
• Bradley Bishop, Alden, N.Y. (Sarazen Flight)
• Suneil Aggarwal, Alpharetta, Ga. (Jones Flight)
• Bilal Jordan, Houston, Texas (Snead Flight)
As the largest amateur golf tour in North America with more than 6,500 members, the Golf Channel Am Tour is open to the public and provides the most professional tournament experience for players of all ages and abilities, as well as offering unparalleled access to some of the most renowned and challenging golf courses across the country. Broken up into 60 local chapters throughout North America, the Golf Channel Am Tour conducted more than 800 local championships and 25 two-day “Major” Championships throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico in 2012.
For more information about the Golf Channel Am Tour and the national championships, visit www.gcamtour.com.
