Smith holds on to lead

By Ryan Yemen
Published: June 19, 2008

GORDONSVILLE — The first 17 holes of the second round of the Spring Creek Classic were awfully kind to Jesse Smith.

Taking the tee box on the 18th hole, Smith was seven under for the day, amassing a four-stroke lead on his competitors.

“I was in a very good place to be,” Smith said. “It looked like I was going to 13-under, but I double bogied 18. So it’s a little frustrating, but all in all I’m still very happy with where I am.”

While the last hole of the day may leave a bitter taste, Smith heads into the last two days of the Classic 11 strokes under par, good enough for a two-stroke lead.

“You’ve got the think your way through this course,” Smith said. “You can’t just bomb it everywhere. You just have to be patient, hit to the right spots and try and play smart.”

Smith, looking for his first win this year on the Tarheel Tour, plans to continue playing conservative golf.

“You can make a lot of birdies out here,” Smith said. “But at the same time, this course can eat you up if you don’t play smart.”

Andy Bare and Hank Kim are within striking distance at two strokes back. Bare came into Thursday with a share of the lead and put himself in good position with a 2-under round of 70.

“Yesterday I found myself on the right side of the hole an awful lot, but today that only happened to or three times,” Bare said. “I think three or four back might be too much, so I’m glad I made birdie on that last hole.”

Brian Duncan, who had the lowest score of the day with a 7-under 65, is tied with Scott Weatherly for fourth place. The two trail Smith by three strokes.

David Robinson shot one over to put him in a tie for sixth place. He shot a 65 the previous day to share the lead with Bare.

“I just didn’t put the ball in the right place [Thursday],” Robinson said. “But that’s just the way it goes. If you don’t do that here you’re not going to make many birdies.”

Aside from some early morning wind, pin placement appeared to be the only change between the first and second rounds. While the fast greens haunted some, most of the field appeared to make the proper adjustments.

“The greens are definitely quick,” Smith said. “But they’re also true. They roll true. They’re pure greens.”

For some, the slick greens provide an opportunity to pick up a stroke.

“If you can put your irons in the right spot, you can attack and be more aggressive on the putt,” Robinson said.

With the tournament halfway through, one stroke could go a long way and bring home the $20,000 first-place check.