RHODES, Iowa – Severe weather struck The Harvester Club on Wednesday evening, forcing suspension of second-round play at the 107th Western Junior at 5:15 p.m.
Morning storms delayed the start of the second round by 1 hour and 45 minutes. Five players shared the lead at 3-under par when play was stopped. Three had completed their rounds, while the other two played at least six holes.
The second round will resume at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. The field will be cut to the low 44 players and ties after the conclusion of that round.
After Wednesday’s delays, tournament officials have shortened the event from 72 holes to 54 holes. The final round will be played Thursday after the second round is complete.
Jackson Ormond, of Webster, New York, finished a tournament-low 6-under 66 on Wednesday to bounce back from an opening-round 75. The No. 61-ranked junior in the Rolex AJGA Rankings is part of the group tied for the lead at 3-under.
“I talked with my coaches yesterday about staying conservative and below the holes, and I took that too much to heart,” said the 17-year-old Florida commit. “I wasn’t aggressive in the first round where I needed to be and came out today knowing I had to go low.”
Ormond carded seven birdies against just one bogey, crediting his father – who is serving as his caddie this week – for helping him stay composed through challenging conditions.
“It’s been a blessing to have my dad out on the bag this week,” Ormond said. “He’s definitely keeping me steady and doing a great job talking through numbers, adjusting to wind and reading slope, especially at a place like this. He’s done a phenomenal job of keeping me steady and patient, while also keeping me aggressive.”
Also at 3-under after 36 holes are Coltrane Mittag, of Ashland, Nebraska, and Cameron Kuchar, of Tequesta, Florida. Mittag, a 17-year-old Oklahoma commit, has posted rounds of 71 and 70. Kuchar – the son of nine-time PGA TOUR winner Matt Kuchar – followed his opening 67 with a 2-over 74 on Wednesday.
Sam Carraher, of Crown Point, Indiana, and Nathan Miller, of Dallas, Texas, are also at 3-under but have not finished their second rounds. Carraher was 2-under through nine holes of his second round when play was stopped. Miller – a TCU commit – was 1-under through six holes of his second round.
Seventeen players are in the clubhouse at 2-over or better, which currently serves as the projected cut line for the top 44.
The crowded leaderboard features five players tied for sixth at 2-under, with nine more sitting at 1-under.
For the full leaderboard, click here.
The winner this week will join Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler and Jim Furyk as a Western Junior champion. The top three finishers and ties receive exemptions into the Western Amateur at Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Illinois, on July 28-Aug. 2
Attendance and parking for the Western Junior are free.