Carson Roberts stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the Scottsdale AZ Open on Wednesday with a 61, snagging the lead away from PGA Tour player and pre-tournament Vegas favorite Joel Dahmen.
Roberts started his round with a bogey but bounced back with an eagle on the second. From there, he birdied eight of the last 16 holes, including four out of five on the back nine. He is 13 under, with his 61 backing up a first-round 66.
The 2017 Arkansas state amateur champ and former Washburn Ichabod finished sixth at the 2019 PGA Tour Canada Q School but has yet to taste professional victory.
To do so, he’ll need to hold off Dahmen and others on Thursday.
Dahmen, who shot a second-round 63, joked before the start of the mini-tour event in Arizona about being the top dog.
“This is such a new territory. … I’m usually like the 15th guy on the list at 100-to-1,” Dahmen said on the practice range on Monday. His last professional win was at this tournament in 2017. He came into the event fresh off a 58 at nearby Mesa Country Club.
He is a shot off the lead. Zach Smith is third at 10 under.
Roberts, Dahmen and Smith will be in the final group, each driving his own golf cart, starting at 9:42 a.m. on Thursday.
The recently retired Colt Knost is among three golfers at T-4 at 9 under including Brad Hopfinger and Matthew Liringis, who also shot a 61 on Wednesday, tying Roberts for low round of the week so far.
SCOTTSDALE AZ OPEN: Scores | Tee times | Photos
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Mark Anguiano and Steven Kupcho are T-7 at 8 under.
In the group of eight golfers at 7 under is Nate Lashley, who shot a 62 in Tuesday’s first round. He posted a 1-over 71 in the second round, which included a triple-bogey eight on the second hole. He had eagled the hole the day before.
He’s tied at 7 under with fellow PGA Tour golfer Kevin Streelman.
The cut was 1 under, with Kirk Triplett and Scott Harrington among those getting through to Thursday’s final round.
Alex Cejka, however, is not moving on. Two weeks ago he rallied from six down with six to go in a Parker, Arizona, mini-tour event.
The Scottsdale AZ Open is a 54-hole stroke play event that started with a field of 162 players. The low 50 players and ties have advanced to the final round. The total purse is $130,000 with $20,000 going to the winner.
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