Moore, 2-Time Public Links Champion, Leads In Amateur Stroke Play

Mamaroneck, N.Y. - Two-time Amateur Public Links champion Ryan Moore, 21, of Puyallup, Wash., held the 36-hole lead Tuesday at 1-under-par 139 at the midway point of the second day of stroke play at the U.S. Amateur at Winged Foot Golf Club.

Trailing Moore by a stroke were Colombian Oscar Alvarez and Nick Cook of nearby Shelton, Conn., at even-par 140.

Spencer Levin was unhappy with his 5-over 75 on Winged Foot's East Course Tuesday, calling it one of the tougher courses he's played. (John Mummert / USGA)

With half the field of 312 players finished, Bronson La'Cassie, 21, of Australia, who plays his college golf at the University of Minnesota, was two strokes back at 141. He shot the morning's low round of 3-under-par 67 on the East Course.

The 2002 and 2004 Public Links winner, Moore fired an even-par 70 on the West Course to go along with his first-round 69 on the East Course.

"It would be awesome to win here, especially since I won the Public Links earlier this year," said Moore, who also won the NCAA individual title, the Western Amateur and the Sahalee Players this summer. Since October 2003, he has shot under par in 39 of his last 41 rounds of competitive golf.

"You're going to make some bogeys out here," said Moore, a senior at Nevada-Las Vegas. "Sometimes, they'll come three in a row like I did (to start his day). But, I was able to make a few more birdies (four) than I expected to coming in."

Winning medalist honors is one of the USGA milestones, he has yet to achieve but he realizes match play is where the competition really begins.

"If you play even par around here, it's going to turn out OK most of the time," said Moore. "You have to play your own game, and sometimes that's hard to do. But, if someone holes out from 180 yards, I can't jump up and block it. Heck, I could go out and shoot 7 or 8 under and get beat. You never can tell."

Alvarez, 21, a junior at Brigham Young University, who qualified for the 2004 U.S. Open, shot 3-over-par 73 and Cook, 22, a recent graduate of Georgetown, posted a 1-under-par 69 on the West Course, the site of four Opens.

"The golf course is so tough," said the 6-foot-5 Cook. "The greens are so severe on the West. I kept it below the hole all day. You can't go hunting birdies. You can get yourself in trouble."

Alvarez missed a 6-foot putt for par on his final hole that would have given him an under-par total. He had three three-putt greens compared to zero on Monday.

"I didn't putt good (Tuesday)," said Alvarez, an honorable mention All-American. "But, 3 over par on this course is not bad. I did OK."

Among those in the afternoon wave of players were 2003 USA Walker Cupper Chris Nallen, 22, of Hackettstown, N.J., and four-time Winged Foot champion Andrew Svoboda, 24, of Stamford, Conn., the 2004 Met Amateur champion.

Following with the second round of stroke play, the field of 312 golfers will be trimmed to the lowest 64 scorers who will advance to match play. The championship continues through Sunday's scheduled 36-hole final match.

The U.S. Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Pete Kowalski, USGA Director of Media Relations. E-mail him with questions or comments at pkowalski@usga.org.