Just as Tuesday started with the East taking an early lead, Wednesday was no different. But this time, thanks to some timely 1-up victories, the East retained its momentum and will begin the afternoon mixed four-ball matches with a one-point lead.
Suzie Lee and Mackenzie Talbert, and Justin Thomas and Logan Harrell grabbed convincing victories right off the bat and gave the East two early points. Lee and Talbert defeated Emily Collins and Casey Grice, 5 and 3, and Thomas and Harrell took down Tanner Kesterson and Will Zalatoris, 4 and 3.
The West countered with a big win of its own, as Kristen Park and Tiffany Lim took just 13 holes to upend Emma Talley and Victoria Tanco, followed by a 2-and-1 victory by Preston Valder and Andrew Levitt over Franco Castro and Oliver Schniederjans.
The East then took the next two matches, led by an unlikely come-from-behind win by Nicholas Reach and Stephen Behr Jr. Behr and Reach were 3-down through nine holes to Kramer Hickok and Michael Kim, but birdies on Nos. 10, 13 and 16 squared the match with just two to play before the pair went on to take the 1-up win.
Throughout the morning, the score was tied on five separate occasions and neither team led by more than one point. The difference came down to the final match. Needing to protect a 1-up lead on the 18th green, the East’s JD Tomlinson studied his eight-foot putt that would determine which team led after the morning session.
“I was thinking I had to make it to win,” Tomlinson said. “I lost both matches yesterday, so it feels good to finally contribute to the team.”
By making the putt, Tomlinson and Andrew Knox secured the 1-up victory and a 13-12 lead for the East.
Written by Will Perry and Lauren Johnson, AJGA Communications
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