FALMOUTH, Maine – Wednesday was moving day at the 94th New England Amateur Championship, and Dedham’s Joey Lenane (George Wright Golf Course) made the biggest move of the event so far.
The rising sophomore at North Carolina State shot a nearly-flawless 5-under-par 67 to leapfrog himself to 7-under total, giving him a sizable four-stroke lead entering the final round at The Woodlands Club (6,722 yards, par-72). If Lenane holds on, he’ll be the first Bay State native to win the title in the Pine Tree State since Jim Salinetti triumphed in 2000 at Waterville Country Club.
Maine amateur champion Caleb Manuel shot 1-under 71 on Wednesday and sits at 3-under total. Thomas Harrison (Old Sandwich GC), who finished Round 1 in second place is now T5 at even-par overall, tied with 2020 champion John Broderick (Dedham Country & Polo Club).
A total of 61 players made the cut at 9-over, with 29 representing Mass Golf Member Clubs.
Lenane returned from an afternoon rain delay, which lasted just over an hour, and knocked down a 6-footer on the sixth hole to keep his momentum going the rest of the way. He didn’t slow down, making birdie on holes 11, 15 and 18 coming home.
“I knew I was hitting it well, but I just kind of thought ‘All right, let’s just go hit another fairway, give ourselves another birdie look,’” Lenane told The Portland Press Herald after his round. “I really was just trying to give myself chances with the putter, because it’s felt good all week.”
Lenane continued to find greens in regulation Wednesday, something he’ll hope to continue on Thursday.
“Treat it the same,” he said. “What I’ve been doing has been clearly working the last couple of days. … I’ve just got to treat it like it’s a regular round, there’s nothing to it.”
If anybody can make a big splash Thursday, it’s Broderick, whose outstanding score 62 last week at Essex County Club broke a longstanding competitive course record. So far it’s been back-to-back 72s for the Vanderbilt standout, but five of his seven birdies so far have been on the back-nine, which could favor the Wellesley native down the stretch.
Westminster’s Ethan Whitney (Oak Hill CC), who finished T7 last year, shot even-par on Wednesday to move into the top 10 at 1-over total, one stroke ahead of Osterville’s Ricky Stimets (Worcester Country Club, who also finished T7 last year.
The final round begins at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, with all players teeing off from Hole 1. The leading group is scheduled to tee off at 11:21 a.m.
The New England Golf Association will provide content and updates from the New England Amateur Championship on Instagram and Twitter.
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