Coloradan Ben Lanting stays in top 10 at midway point of national Assistant PGA Professional Championship
By Gary Baines – 11/12/2021
Ben Lanting of Bear Creek Golf Club remained in the top 10 and Andy Connell of The Ridge at Castle Pines North moved into the top 25 after day 2 of the national Assistant PGA Professional Championship, sponsored by National Car Rental, in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Lanting, winner of three of the last four Colorado Assistant PGA Championships, posted his second straight 2-under-par 70, which leaves him at 4-under 140 and in a tie for ninth place in the 133-player event. The 28-year-old trails leader Jin Chung of Georgia by eight strokes.
Lanting, runner-up in the Colorado PGA Professional Championship in September, has made three birdies and one bogey each of the first two rounds at PGA Golf Club.
Connell matched Lanting’s 70 on Friday, moving up to 24th place with a 2-under 142 total. On day 2, Connell carded an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys.
Twenty-one players didn’t compete their second round before sunset on Friday, including Coloradans Geoff Keffer and Ryan Wroblewski. Both are 6 over par through 33 holes, which puts them in danger of missing the 36-hole cut — to the low 70 players and ties — unless they rally in a big way down the stretch. They will finish round 2 on Saturday morning.
The 72-hole tournament, which features a $150,000 purse, continues through Sunday.
Gunner Wiebe, the 2010 CGA Player of the Year, won the national championship last year but isn’t defending his title as he’s left his job as a PGA assistant professional.
Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing at PGA Golf Club:
9. Ben Lanting, Bear Creek GC 70-70–140
24. Andy Connell, The Ridge at Castle Pines North 72-70–142
80. Geoff Keffer, Lakewood CC 74-(6 over par total through 33 holes)
96. Ryan Wróblewski, Colorado GC 77-(6 over par total through 33 holes)
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.