As blistering hot as it’s been the past couple of days, Jace Long has been even hotter.
Long mastered the field in the second round of stroke play on Wednesday at the 2009 Missouri Amateur golf tournament, firing 7-under par 64 to become the low qualifier for match play at St. Joseph Country Club.
Long, a former high school All-America from Dixon who recently completed his freshman year at Mizzou, finished the two qualifying rounds at 6-under 72-64--136.
That was two strokes better than runner-up Brad Nurski, of St. Joseph, and Andy Hogenmiller, of Washington.
Wednesday’s seven-under round matched Long’s best high school round at Dixon. He now enters the start of match play today as the hottest golfer in the Amateur field.
The two rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday cut the field to 64 players for match play. First round of match play is today and the second and third rounds of match play will be Friday.
On Saturday the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds are scheduled, with a 36-hole final set for Sunday.
Three Rolla golfers failed to make match play. Chris Martin shot 77-79--156 to tie for 102nd overall. Sam Steelman tied for 117th with 74-84--158 while Jared Jordan was 150th at 89-81--170.
