By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Adam Head, the 2021 Topeka Golf Association player of the year, is in position to add another win after riding a second-round 67 Saturday at Cypress Ridge to a one-stroke lead in the City Stroke Play tournament.
After opening the tournament with a 69 Friday at Shawnee Country Club, Head followed that up with an even better day Saturday to move from fourth place into the tournament lead.
Adam Head taps in a putt on his final hole after hitting an approach shot to within inches. Head shot a second-round 67 to take a one-stroke lead in the TGA City Stroke Play tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Former Topeka West star Addison Alonzo is a stroke back in the TGA City Stroke Play tournament after a second-round 69. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It was solid,'' Head said. "It seemed like I was making some decent putts. I mjssed a few short ones and made a few long ones so it kind of evened out. I think I just had one bogey today so it was just solid overall.''
The biggest thing about Saturday for Head, a former Hayden multi-sport standout, was putting himself in contention for the championship, which will be decided Sunday at Lake Shawnee.
"This is my favorite course and historically I've never played well here in Stroke Play,'' Head said. "It's just nice to come out here and shoot a good score and stay in it.''
Former Topeka West star Addison Alonzo, a two-time national team champion at Hutchinson Community College, is right behind Head after following up his opening 68 with a 69 on Saturday.
Alonzo is in position for the Stroke Play crown after winning the TGA Match Play title earlier this summer.
"I definitely left a lot out of strokes out there,'' Alonzo said. "We were kind of struggling the first nine, couldn't really get it going, and just barely picked it up on the back. My approach shots were a little rough.
"But all you want is a chance and if I can take advantage of that chance, we'll be good.''
Jason Buessing shot a 66 Friday in the opening round to take a one-stroke lead but an up and down 74 on Saturday put him in third place, four strokes behind Head.
Dan Key, who opened with a 67, also shot a 74 on Saturday and is fourth at 141, tied with Max Stucky-Halley, who moved up the leader board with a second-round 69 Saturday.
The final round Sunday at Lake Shawnee will get under way at 12 p.m..
Head, Alonzo, Buessing and Key will tee off at 1:40 p.m., playing in the same group for the second straight day.
TGA STROKE PLAY TOURNAMENT
Second-round results
1. Adam Head - 69-67 -- 136
2. Addison Alonzo - 68-69 -- 137
3. Jason Buessing - 66-74 -- 140
4. (tie) Dan Key - 67-74 -- 141
4. (tie) Max Stuckey-Halley - 72-69 -- 141
6. Jeremiah Nelson - 72-70 -- 142
7. (tie) Bryce Cowan - 70-73 -- 143
7. (tie) Alex Valdivia - 70-73 -- 143
9. Andrew Poling - 73-71 -- 144
10. Phil Frost - 74-71 -- 145
11. Kade Prentice - 73-73 -- 146
12. (tie) Ben Moser - 75-73 -- 148
12. (tie) Brian Walker - 71-77 -- 148
12. (tie) Jacob Diehl - 76-72 -- 148
15. (tie) Blake Buessing - 70-79 -- 149
15. (tie) Jack Hillman - 75-74 -- 149
17. Jimmy Monson - 73-77 -- 150
18. Lane Workman - 72-79 -- 151
19. Lance Smith - 75-77 -- 152
20. (tie) Hayden Beck - 75-78 -- 153
20. (tie) Josah Packard - 76-77 -- 153
Sunday tee times
At Lake Shawnee Golf Course
12 p.m. Jeff Lewis, Eddie Arredondo, TJ Swietek
12:10 Ryan Eldridge, Jeff Quintin, Jayson Mroz
12:20 K J Boyle, Kevin Matayka, Ty Peterson, Chris Bishop
12:30 Josh Maike, Raub Kirkwood, Joey Connor, Justin Reamer
12:40 Justice Valdivia, Patrick Golden, Jayson Duncan, Eric Kolean
12:50 Josiah Packard, Mac Piles, Jalen Heald, Zach Nuss
1:00 James Monson, Lane Workman, Lance Smith, Hayden Beck
1:10 Jacob Diehl, Ben Moser, Jack Hillman, Blake Buessing
1:20 Andrew Poling, Phil Frost, Kade Prentice, Brian Walker
1:30 Max Stucky-Halley, Jeremiah Nelson, Bryce Cowan, Alex Valdivia
1:40 Adam Head, Addison Alonzo, Jason Buessing, Dan Key
