Neil Thomas shoots 66 to lead Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship by 5 strokes
Alberta Golf (Barrhead) – Hot conditions at the scenic Barrhead Golf Club Wednesday for the 2nd round of the Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship runner-up Neil Thomas from Edmonton Country Club started on the back nine and had a blistering 5-under 31 and posted one more birdie in his round for a bogey free 66 and a 5 shot lead heading to the final round.
Barrett Jarosch from Windermere Golf & Country Club, runner-up in the recent Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship at the Derrick Golf & Winter Club and Defending Alberta Mid-Amateur Champion, had 35 on each nine for a 2-under 70 and gets in the final group with Ryan DenBraber from Glendale Golf & Country Club who shot a bogey free 5-under 67.
Last year’s runner-up Ryan Werre from Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat who started on the back nine had the nine of the week, turning in 6-under 30 and after making a 30 footer on his 14th hole was 7-under for the day. 3 bogeys coming in cooled off the round but still a 4-under 68 and he’s only 6 shots off the lead.
2020 Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion Michael Valk started on the first hole, the tougher nine, and had a 3-over 39. After hearing what Werre and Thomas did playing the back nine first, Valk knew he had to go low to keep in touch and he played the back nine in 34 to stay in contention.
Jesse Galvon from Mickelson National Golf Club, the 2019 & 2022 champion, turned in 36 playing the back nine first but got hot on his second nine carding 3 birdies and an eagle against a lone bogey for a 32 and 4-under 68 on the day.
