Egloff surges to tie with Donovan Several contenders for $11,000 as tourney enters final round today

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BANGOR – Shortly after Eric Egloff finished his second round of the 39th Greater Bangor Open on Friday, thunder clapped in the air nearby. Egloff, from Sandy Spring, Md., decided it was time to head inside and called to fellow competitors who were on the…
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BANGOR – Shortly after Eric Egloff finished his second round of the 39th Greater Bangor Open on Friday, thunder clapped in the air nearby.

Egloff, from Sandy Spring, Md., decided it was time to head inside and called to fellow competitors who were on the Bangor Municipal Golf Course driving range to do the same.

“I’ve been hit by lightning before,” he said, pointing out that it took its toll on his game as well as his body in 2003.

Egloff had already created his own lightning, though, as he shot a 5-under-par 64 and moved into a share of the tournament lead at 6-under 132.

Defending champion Matt Donovan of Pittsfield, Mass., is tied with Egloff after posting a 68 Friday to also sit at 132.

A stroke back at 133 is former Maine Open champion Rodney Butcher of New Port Richey, Fla., first-round leader George Bradford of Pikesville, Md., is next at 134, followed by Scott Ehrlich of Blue Bell, Pa., at 135. Butcher shot a 66 Friday, Bradford a 71, and Ehrlich a 69.

They are the top competitors chasing the $11,000 first-place check from the $50,000 purse.

John Arnette of Beaverdam, Va., tops the amateurs at 137 after recording a 65. He’s three strokes ahead of Maine Amateur champ Corey Poulin (71-140) of Skowhegan.

The pro cut for today’s 18-hole finale came at 142, the amateur cut was 157. Play will start on No. 10 as the nines are reversed for the final round.

After the last round, the Chrysler Q-school Shootout will be held. It’s a skills competition among the top nine pros with the winner getting his entry into the PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament paid for, approximately $4,000.

“I was just hoping to get myself in position to win,” said Egloff, who won the GBO in 1995. “I don’t care if I win or not, I’m just trying to give myself the best chance I can.”

Egloff birdied the first hole, rolling in a 15-foot putt from the back fringe, then added a birdie on No. 5. After suffering his only bogey on No. 7, Egloff birdied Nos. 8 and 9.

“That was a turning point. I got a little mojo,” said Egloff.

He parred the first four holes on the back before making birdie on the difficult par-4 14th hole.

“I putted with a sand wedge from off the fringe and made it,” said Egloff of the 15-footer.

He made his final birdie on 17.

“I drove it onto the green 20 feet from the pin and two-putted for birdie,” he said, then followed that with “a real good two-putt par” on 18.

“That gave me a lot of confidence,” said Egloff. “It didn’t break my momentum.”

“I thought [the course] played tougher yesterday, but I was four strokes better, so of course I think it was better today,” said a smiling Egloff.

Donovan opened well but couldn’t sustain it.

“I started off perfectly. I was 3 under through the first five,” said Donovan, who birdied Nos. 2, 3, and 5.

“It looked like things were going to go hot and it just stalled out,” Donovan said. “I hit the ball close, but I couldn’t get anything to go in.”

He bogeyed 10 and 13, three-putting from 15 feet downhill on the first and hitting his drive on 13 into the weeds on the right.

“I got a little bit greedy there, I think,” said Donovan. “I hit driver and tried to drive the green. I won’t do that [Saturday]. I’ll use 3-wood.”

He parred his last five holes.

“I was able to regroup coming down the stretch, but I couldn’t get the putts to go down,” Donovan said.

“I kept myself in it,” said Donovan. “Hopefully, the putts will go in tomorrow.”

Butcher birdied 10 and 13, bogeyed 17, and turned in 33. He added a 33 on the front after birdies on 2 and 4.

Bradford had difficulty with his chipping Friday.

“The ball kept checking up and I couldn’t get it close to the hole,” said Bradford of his first nine holes. “When I adjusted and started hitting them firmer, the balls were going to the back of the green.”

Bradford, who started on No. 10, parred his first eight holes, but hit his tee shot out of bounds on 18 and made bogey.

Bradford countered that with his only birdie, on No. 3, then promptly bogeyed 4 and 5. He parred the last four.

“I still feel like I’m playing good golf,” he said. “I think there’s another good round out there.”


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