Sam Stewart, from Reisterstown, drew the first tee time for the 12th Amateur Public Links championship of the Maryland State Golf Association, teed off in the second round in early afternoon at Greystone Golf Course not knowing whether he was in the lead, then finished to find himself on top with 71-72–143. Some two hours later, he had withstood all challengers in the 48-man field, completing a wire-to-wire triumph.
It wasn’t even close, as he led runner-up Ryan Richardson, Mountain Branch GC, by three strokes (74-72–146), and only two other players broke 150: Nick Barrett, Waverly Woods GC, 77-70–147, and Ken Lampard, Beaver Creek CC, 78-71–149.
Stewart, 21, a Towson University senior, birdied two of the four par-5’s in the morning and all four in the afternoon to highlight his tours. “I was able to take advantage of my opportunities and I had no three-putts, he said. It was a homecoming of sorts for Stewart, who finished second two years ago, the last time the event was held at the northern Baltimore County facility. Then, he carded 69-72–141, and lost to Mark Cusic by a stroke.
Barrett’s second-round 70 was the low round of the day. He shot 33-37, with three front-nine birdies and one on ther back to get to 4 under, before slipping back with three bogeys. Aside from Stewart and Lampard, the only other 71 was by Brendan McKinney, Pine Ridge GC, in the afternoon after starting with an 80.
-Reported by John Stewart
