With 36 holes in the books, Kimberley’s Jared du Toit remains in the title hunt at the 113th B.C. Amateur Golf Championship.
After opening the 72-hole tournament with a stellar four-under 68 at Fairview Mountain Golf Club in Oliver on Tuesday, du Toit pencilled in a second consecutive 68 on Wednesday afternoon to sit one stroke back of tourney leader Stuart Macdonald.
du Toit began the day in a three-way tie for the lead, alongside Ian Kim of Vancouver and Conner Kozak of Vernon.
By the time the second round had come to a close, Macdonald stood alone atop the leaderboard, with du Toit hot on his heels. Kim and Kozak both fell into a tie for 10th after firing three-over 75s, respectively.
Wednesday was an important day at the B.C. Amateur, with the axe falling on all competitors outside of the top 70 (and ties).
Only two of the East Kootenay contingent advanced beyond the 36-hole mark, with du Toit and his younger brother, Russell (76, 75), making the cut.
The younger du Toit played consistent golf on day two, registering par on every hole with the exception of bogeys on the fourth, fifth and 14th. The smooth round came on heels of an up-and-down opening day in which Russell carded three birdies, 11 pars, two bogeys, a double bogey and triple bogey.
Heading into the third round, Russell du Toit sits in a 12-way tie for 68th and 16 strokes back of the leader.
The cutline was drawn at at seven-over par (151), with the younger du Toit just sneaking in. Unfortunately for the East Kootenay contingent, the rest of them were caught by the axe.
Missing the cut were Cranbrook’s Scott Merriam (78, 77), Creston’s Karson O’Keefe (72, 83) and Bryan Smithson (80, 77), and Kimberley’s Justin Sawley (82, 81) and Jacob Bowes (83, 80).
Third-round action begins Thursday morning, with Russell du Toit teeing off in the second-last group at 10:30 a.m. (Mountain).
Jared du Toit is set to tee off in the final group at 10:40 a.m. (Mountain), along with Macdonald and Brayden Eriksen (74, 66) of Pheasant Glen Golf Resort (Parksville).
The championship round is scheduled for Friday.
The top 25 golfers (and ties) from the 113th B.C. Amateur Championship will advance to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, set to be played at the Weston Golf and Country Club and Lambton Golf and Country Club in Toronto, beginning Aug. 10.
Jared du Toit has his hands on a qualifying place at the national championships heading into the third day of the B.C. Amateur, while younger brother Russell is six strokes back of the group tied for 22nd (one-over, 145)
A total of 158 golfers were in action through the first 36 holes at Fairview Mountain Golf Club.
Designed by renowned Canadian golf course architect Les Furber, Fairview Mountain Golf Club stands 7,025 yards in length.
Correction: In the Wednesday, July 15 edition of The Townsman and The Bulletin, it was incorrectly printed that Justin Sawley scored a 10-over 86 during first-round play when, in fact, he registered a 10-over 82. It was also incorrectly printed that Jacob Bowes scored an 11-over 87 during the first round when, in fact, he registered an 11-over 83.