Greene takes lead to Lane Tree

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on June 8, 2008 12:41 PM

• Print
• Email

DUDLEY -- Players in the tenth annual Wayne County Men's Amateur golf championship put their best foot forward at Southern Wayne Counrty Club on Saturday, and the competition got heated.

Literally.

With temperatures soaring to the 100 degree mark, players battled one another, the golf course, and the exhausting conditions.

The heat did not seem to effect the leader of the open division.

Jonathan Greene fired a low second day score of 66, seizing the lead after an opening round 74. Greene will carry a 36-hole total of 140, and a one stroke lead into today's final round at Lane Tree Golf Club.

"They say that Saturday is moving day, and I was fortunate to make a move in the right direction," Greene said. "I sort of held a few shots back yesterday, I played well but I didn't make any putts.

"Today I putted much better."

The left-handed leader will play in the final group today when play resumes.

"I will probably go out to Walnut Creek and hit some balls this evening and get ready," Greene said of his preperation strategy. "I just have to keep drinking water and Gatorade, and keep myself hydrated and I'll be fine."

Mount Olive College golf team member Ryan Campbell will be one of the prominent contenders chasing Greene around Lane Tree. Campbell carded a 71 at SWCC, which he added to a first day 70 for a 141 total.

Always consistant Stan Adams will also be in the open division mix. Three strokes behind the leader, Adams knows he is in good stalking position.

"We'll see what happens tomorrow, it's my home course so hopefully I will get some sort of home course advantage," Adams joked. "I feel pretty good, and there are a lot of worse things that I could be doing than playing golf."

In the senior division, the first two days have shaken out two front-runners. John Zambelli and John Brashears shot matching 71's at Walnut Creek on Friday, and maintained their advantage at Southern Wayne.

Defending champion Bob Brewer will be looking to charge from four shots back.

Three time defending super-senior John Newsome found the terrain tough to tame, firing rounds of 75 and 78 over the first two days. If Newsome is going to win a record fourth consecutive title he will have to play in red numbers today.

Milton Smith seized the super-senior lead at Walnut Creek with a 71.

Play at Lane Tree begins at 8 a.m. today.