Jorgensen has 2-stroke lead over Hanefeld Speirs, Spector make the cut

PORTLAND – On a day when wind and sun worked hard drying out Riverside Municipal Golf Course, scores for Thursday’s second round of the Charlie’s Maine Open Golf Championship generally went higher than the opening round.

Even first-round leader Eric Jorgensen of Grand Ville, Mich., wasn’t immune, but his 3-under-par 69 Thursday gave him a two-day total of 133 and increased his lead to two strokes over Kirk Hanefeld of Bolton, Mass.

Hanefeld followed Wednesday’s 65 with a 70 Thursday for 135.

Bob Darling Jr. of Auburn was able to shoot a better score, posting a day’s best 67 for 136 and a tie for third with amateur Jason Gall of Augusta. Gall birdied his last hole Thursday to finish with a 71.

Gall leads 13-time Maine Amateur champion Mark Plummer of Manchester by six strokes in the competition for low amateur honors. Plummer shot 72 for 142.

Another notable amateur making the cut was seven-time Maine women’s amateur titlist Abby Spector of Waterville. She followed an opening-round 74 with a 73 that gave her 147, the cut number for amateurs to advance to today’s 18-hole finale.

Two-time Whited Ford Paul Bunyan Amateur winner Jesse Speirs of Bangor also advanced after his 73 Thursday placed him in a tie for fourth among the amateurs at even-par 144, which was the pro cut.

Tied for fifth overall are Joey Iaciofano of Metacomet Country Club in Rhode Island, Mike Meehan of Glen Cove Golf Club on Long Island, N.Y., and Sean O’Hair of Aston, Pa., who finished second in last month’s Greater Bangor Open.

GBO winner William Link IV of Acton, Mass., heads a group at 138 that includes former Maine Amateur champ Sean Gorgone of Topsham and Gorham Country Club head pro Mark Fogg. Link shot a 68 Thursday, Gorgone matched Darling’s 67, and Fogg had a 71.

Jorgensen admitted to being a little nervous before Thursday’s round.

“Today was a tough fight,” said the 23-year-old Michigan State grad. “I’ve been in the lead a few times in my life, but I haven’t won in a year.”

His last win was in the North-South Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C. Before that he won the Big Ten individual championship.

“I was the first player in Michigan State University history to do that,” said Jorgensen.

Jordan got off to an inauspicious start when he only parred his first hole, the 450-yard par-5 10th, which is easily reachable in two.

“I told myself there are a lot of birdie holes out there, and that relaxed me,” said Jorgensen, who finished with five birdies against two bogeys.

Darling is making another run at winning a title that he very much wants to have.

“I’m just looking forward to getting it right this year,” said Darling, who was the leader after two rounds last year but couldn’t hold off Ryan Ouellette.

“I don’t think I was nervous (last year), but I was tentative,” said Darling.

“I’ve just got to go out and play like I have been playing,” he added.

Darling eagled the 10th hole Thursday, his opening hole. He birdied 15 to make the turn at 3 under par. He gave a stroke back with a bogey on No. 2, but birdied 4, 6, and 8 for his 67.

He especially liked the last birdie.

“It was one of those [putts] that when you get up to it, you can see the line instantly,” said Darling. “And the hole looked liike a bushel bucket. It was about 25 feet with a 14-inch break.

“It’s always nice when those go in.”

There’s a lot of confidence among the leaders.

“I’m trustung my swing,” said Jorgensen, who turned pro in May. “I know I’ll give myself some birdie chances, and if I give myself some, I’ll make some.”

Darling said, with a smile, “It’s going to be a shootout tomorrow.”