Ella Scaysbrook and Coby Carruthers have both started well in their respective campaigns in the United States overnight.
At the prestigious Women’s Western Amateur Championship at Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak, Michigan, Scaysbrook has rebounded from a quiet start to post one of the rounds of the day, a four-under-par 68, to vault into a tie for 8th.
After opening with a one-over 73, the Newcastle-based star has placed herself firmly in contention and sits just three shots back of the lead shared by Farah O’Keefe of Texas and Chaisilprungruang Pimchompp of Thailand.
Scaysbrook started her day steadily, rolling in a couple of birdies on the front nine. She went on a tear to start her back nine, binning four straight birdies, to get to within one of the lead. Two late bogeys sadly saw her drop back. However, with the format now reverting to matchplay, she is well in contention for a deep run in the tournament.
Play was suspended at 2:23 p.m. ET due to severe thunderstorms that swept through the area, forcing players off the course for 2 hours and 52 minutes before play resumed late in the afternoon. The second round was completed before dark, with 28 players finishing even par or better to secure their place in the Round of 32 for match play.
The Women’s Western Amateur, dating back to 1901, has been a launching pad for legendary careers, with past champions including Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, and more recently, major champions like Stacy Lewis and Ariya Jutanugarn.
Related LINKS: Women’s Western Amateur SCORES
PORTER CUP: Carruthers Catches Fire
Coby Carruthers leads the way for the NSW Blues contingent competing in this year’s Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club, sitting in second place, three shots behind the United States’ Nikita Gubenko.
Carruthers, fresh from qualifying for next month’s US Amateur, rolled in an impressive seven birdies in his opening round and had it not been for a couple of late bogeys, would’ve been right on the leader’s heels.
Mollymook-based Jye Halls also impressed in his opening round. The Reigning Australian Amateur champion carded a handy four under par 68 to sit just one back of Carruthers, placing him alongside 2023 NSW Amateur Champion Abel Eduard of Victoria.
Concord’s Blake Phillips rounds out the NSW trio and is also still well placed after carding a three-under 67.
The Porter Cup began in 1959 as the International Invitational at Niagara Falls Country Club. It quickly evolved in its second year, expanding from 54 to 72 holes. Renamed in honour of Alex Porter, a distinguished business leader and major supporter, the tournament has grown into one of amateur golf’s premier events, with an honour roll of champions who have gone on to become some of the game’s elite.
Former Champions include Avondale’s Harrison Endycott (2016), Brian Harman (2006), David Duval (19992), Phil Mickelson (1990), and Ben Crenshaw (1972).
Related links: Porter Cup Leaderboard
