Pawleys Island, S.C. – Weather delays were the story of the day as Walker Jennings (Greenville), Waymon Thomas (Mt. Pleasant) and Matthew Hutto (Blythewood) would surge to the top of the leaderboard in the second round of the SCGA Junior Championship Presented by the Heritage Classic Foundation.
The 6,500 yard, par 72 Tradition Golf Club would continue to be a test for players, but red numbers would cascade over the field as 20 players posted a two-day total in red numbers. Starting the day just three behind first round leaders, Adam Hunt (Columbia) and Trey Crenshaw (Lancaster), Jennings got off to a hot start, carding birdies on his first three holes to quickly surge to the top of the leaderboard.
Jennings made the turn holding a three shot lead on the field, but Thomas and Hutto began their climb to join Jennings at the top of the pack. When asked about his round Jennings credited solid ball striking saying ,”I started off hot but struggled a little on the back. Thankfully after the delay I was able to come back and make birdie on my final hole to set myself up well for the final round.” Thomas, a 2023 graduate, is projected to be the youngest in the final pairing. However, that did not hinder him carding his career competitive round. Firing the low round of the day, Thomas would card eight birdies to post a six-under par, 66. Commenting on his game plan for the final round, Thomas expressed, “I again want to take it hole-by-hole like I did in the first and second round and hopefully get the job done.”
Taking his final walk in the Junior Championship, Hutto will look to end his junior career on a high note adding his name to the Charles Rountree,Jr. Trophy. Starting the day three shots back of the leaders, he slowly crept to the top carding birdies five birdies in his first ten holes. A late bogey on the par-4 16th wouldn’t keep him out of the final pairing and Hutto bounced back quickly and end his round on a high note with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole. When asked about how he hopes to end one of his final junior events, Hutto said, “I just want to do what I have been doing the past two days….. and maybe make a few more putts!” The second round of the SCGA Junior Championship will conclude tomorrow morning with play resuming at 8:00 am Wednesday. Once the second round is complete, the field will be cut to the low 54 and ties to compete in the final round of the championship. Follow live scoring of the final round here as well as the SCGA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
