An early double bogey was only a brief stumble for Samantha Wagner. (Montana Pritchard, PGA of America)
Windermere’s Samantha Wagner shook off an early double bogey Wednesday to maintain second place after two rounds of the Junior PGA Championship in Fort Wayne, Ind., just two strokes behind defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand.
Wagner wound up making four birdies on the day at Sycamore Hills GC, posting a 1-under-par 71 that tied for the day’s seventh-best score. Jutanugarn carded a 70, doubling her lead from Tuesday’s opening round.
“Just overall, I wasn’t that steady,” Wagner told a PGA of America liaison. “But I am pretty happy and the round could have been a lot worse than it was.”
The Circle Christian standout carded her double bogey at No.15, her sixth hole of the day. But Wagner parred the final three holes on her opening nine, then birdied Nos. 1 and 7 before giving a shot back at the end.
Jutanugarn – who won by 10 shots a year ago – played her first nine in 2-under, but made three bogeys after the turn. She completed two rounds in 8-under 136.
“At the end of the round, I didn’t hit my irons good,” she said. “I would hit it 10 yards over one green, and 10 yards in front of another. I need to improve.”
Alison Lee of Valencia, Calif., was four strokes off the pace in third after firing a 67 that was the day’s best round
Tyler McDaniel of Manchester, N.Y., took a one-stroke lead in the boys’ division after posting a 3-under 69. Jack Maguire of St. Petersburg slipped 12 shots back.
