YORK — Golfer after golfer has said that the course at the York Golf & Tennis Club isn’t that difficult. Their scores in the 97th Maine Amateur are still proving otherwise.

Whether it’s the tight fairways, the unforgiving greens, tricky pin placements, the wind whipping through the course in the afternoon or the rising temperatures, scores continued to be high in the second round Wednesday. And because of that, no one is sure what will happen in Thursday’s final round.

Matt Hutchins of The Woodlands Club in Falmouth lines up a shot on the 17th green during the 97th Maine Amateur golf tournament at the York Golf & Tennis Club Wednesday. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer)

“It’s anybody’s game tomorrow,” said Joe Baker, the first-day leader who is now tied for second. “We’ll see what happens.”

Thursday’s championship round, which includes 41 golfers who made the cut of 151, will tee off at 7:30 a.m. as officials hope to beat the thunder storms that are forecast to roll through in the afternoon.

Ricky Jones, a three-time Amateur champion, leads the field. He shot a 2-under 68 for a two-day total of 138, one stroke better than Baker and a charging newcomer, Matt Hutchins.

Jones, a 44-year-old from Thomaston who plays out of the Samoset Resort, had six birdies Wednesday, starting out fast with birdies on two of the first three holes and never faltering.

“I probably hit it a little better yesterday, but today I made a lot of putts,” said Jones. “When I started the day I felt like I wanted to be around 67, that would put me in good shape. I was almost there.”

He’s in excellent shape, actually, although he’ll get a good push from Hutchins and Baker, who will make up the last group to tee off, at about 9:40 a.m.

Hutchins, a 19-year-old from Falmouth who plays out of The Woodlands, had the best round of the tournament Wednesday, shooting a 3-under 67. He missed a chance to tie for the lead with a birdie on 18 when his putt rolled an inch wide to the left.

“I thought I hit a good putt and it didn’t go in,” said Hutchins, who will be a sophomore at UCLA next fall. “You can’t hit everything.”

Hutchins, who has already finished second in the New England Open and third in the Massachusetts Open this summer, is looking forward to the final round. “I definitely learned a lot more today,” he said. “I’m just going to go out there tomorrow, and stay patient and have fun. I’m just going out to play golf. It’s just another round.”

Baker, who plays out of Martindale Country Club, shot a 71 on Wednesday to go with his opening 68. He bogeyed the final two holes, also missing a short putt on 18 that would have given him a par.

“I was solid until the end. I just fell apart at the end, probably mentally,” said Baker. “It’s warm, it’s hot. You’ve just got to keep grinding. That’s what it is down here. It’s not long, you’ve just got to put it in the right spots and keep pecking away.”

That lead group will face further challenges.

Gavin Dugas, a 19-year-old from Pittsfield who plays at the J.W. Parks Golf Course, had his second consecutive even-par 70. Judd Parsons of the host club shot an even-par 70 as well Wednesday to give him a two-day total of 142. Two others, Kyle Alexander of Penboscot Valley and Jeff Cole of Sable Oaks (and a former member of York), were sitting at 143. Each shot a 71 on Wednesday. Jack Wyman of the Portland Country Club also shot a 71 in the second round and is in a group of four golfers at 145.

“I’m happy with the 71,” said Cole. “I think it could have been lower but that’s golf. I’m in a good spot going into tomorrow. Maybe I can put it together and make a good run. You never know what’s going to happen.”

One thing that is known is there will be a new champion for the fifth consecutive year. Defending champ John Hayes IV shot a 75 on Wednesday for a two-day total of 147. Hayes, who plays out of Purpoodock, played well early in the second round – he was even par for the day after 10 – but had bogeys on 11, 12 and 15 and a double-bogey on 18.

“It’s done,” he said of his chances. “Unless I happen to play a round that’s an anomaly. I thought I would go low today. I just didn’t manage my game well enough the last two days.”

There were a lot of golfers saying that. Mark Plummer, the 13-time champ from Augusta, shot a 77 for a 149 total. Reese McFarlane, who shot a 71 on Tuesday, fell to an 80, just making the cut. James Frost Jr., who also had a 71 in the first round, shot an 81 a day later and didn’t make the cut.

“Golf is just a hard game,” said Mike Doran, who followed up his first-round 70 with a 77. “We’re amateurs for a reason.”

Related Stories