Lucas Politano’s birdiefest has the 2024 champion in an ideal situation: Atop the leaderboard heading into the final day of the 120th Vermont Amateur at Ekwanok Country Club.
The former Otter Valley Union High School star closed with four birdies over the final six holes for a 66 second round on Wednesday, July 8, seizing a one-shot lead over Alex Leonard, the Day 1 leader.
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Politano, who became the tournament’s youngest champion since 1999 when he won a four-person playoff two summers ago, sits at 4-under through 36 holes.
After Leonard (3-under), who shot a 68 on Wednesday, former champions Garren Poirier and Evan Russell are tied for third after shooting a 68 and 69, respectively, to slide to even par for the tournament. Luke Russell and Stephen Goodridge are tied for fifth at 2-over.
More: Former CVU standout seizes Day 1 lead at 2026 Vermont Amateur golf championship
William Mallia, who shot a 69 on Day 2, and Austin Giroux sit at seventh, both at 3-over.
Prior to Politano’s sizzling 66, Ryan Porter entered the clubhouse with the tourney’s lowest score with a 67. Porter and Peter Reilly are level at 4-over for ninth. The day’s other under par performance came from Troy Goliber, who is 5-over and tied for 11th with Taylor Bellemare.
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Politano told Vermont Golf Association that he started hitting his irons well on the back 9, where he shot 32.
“Putter got hot toward the end,” said Politano, who’s coming off a record-setting freshman year at Rutgers University.
The top 40 golfers in the field following the second round resume play Thursday, July 9, for a 36-hole finale at Ekwanok.
Vermont Amateur leaderboard
Through second round on Wednesday, July 8 (top 40 plus ties)
At Ekwanok Country Club
Lucas Politano (Ralph Myhre) … 70-66—136
Alex Leonard (Lakeside) … 69-68—137
Garren Poirier (Rutland) … 72-68—140
Evan Russell (VT National) … 71-69—140
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Luke Russell (Stowe) … 71-71—142
Stephen Goodridge (Brattleboro) … 72-70—142
William Mallia (Ekwanok) … 74-69—143
Austin Giroux (Newport) … 70-73—143
Ryan Porter (802 Golf Academy) … 77-67—144
Peter Reilly (Quechee) … 75-69—144
Taylor Bellemare (Ekwanok) … 72-72—145
Troy Goliber (VT National) … 76-69—145
Bryan Smith (Burlington) … 72-74—146
Michael Walsh (Burlington) … 75-71—146
Jay Zanleoni (Quechee) … 72-75—147
Sebastian Pell (Rutland) … 75-73—148
Walker Allen (Neshobe) … 76-72—148
Mathew Smith (Manchester) … 75-74—148
Nick Ojala (Proctor-Pittsford) … 75-74—149
Travis Russell (Lakeside) … 76-73—149
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Brady Fallon (Ralph Myhre) … 75-75—150
Brett Roland (Ekwanok) … 78-72—150
Brooks Thompson (Ekwanok) … 75-75—150
Jackson Fellis (Stowe) … 75-76—151
Eric Gerdes (Barre) … 79-72—151
Brody Yates (Kwiniaska) … 76-75—151
Nathan Benoit (Champlain) … 75-76—151
Tyler Parker (Copley) … 75-76—151
Gavin Letourneau (West Bolton) … 76-76—151
Ryan Kohler (Brattleboro) … 74-77—151
Reece de Castro (Rutland) … 74-78—152
Patrick Saxe (Ekwanok) … 76-76—152
Cory Jozefiak (Lakeside) … 78-74—152
Luke Gronbeck (Lakeside) … 75-77—152
Ryan Nappi (Equinox) … 76-77—153
Paul Romano (VT National) … 77-76—153
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Sean Keogh (Lakeside) … 77-76—153
Evan Forrest (Burlington) … 78-75—153
Cooper Guerriere (Kwiniaska) … 75-78—153
Cody Semmelrock (Williston) … 76-77—153
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: 2024 champion surges into lead after Day 2 of the 120th Vermont Amateur at Ekwanok
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