Lenane Takes Commanding Lead In Round 2 Of New England Amateur Championship

FALMOUTH, Maine – Despite an hour-long afternoon rain delay, all players were able to finish the second round of play at the 94th New England Amateur Championship, taking place at The Woodlands Club (6,722 yards, par-72). 
On Wednesday, Joey Lenane (Dedham Country & Polo Club-MA), a rising sophomore at North Carolina State, shot a nearly flawless 5-under-par 67 to leapfrog himself to 7-under total, giving him a sizable four-stroke lead entering the final round. If Lenane holds on, he'll be the first Bay State native to win the title in the Pine Tree State since Jim Salinetti triumphed in 2000 at Waterville Country Club.
Maine amateur champion Caleb Manuel (Brunswick GC-ME) shot 1-under 71 on Wednesday and sits in solo second place at 3-under total. He's two strokes clear of Connor Goode (Glastonbury Hills CC-CT) and Ryan Scollins (Bald Peak CC-NH), who also shot under-par Wednesday (71 and 70, respectively). 
A total of 61 players made the cut at 9-over, with 29 representing Mass Golf Member Clubs.
Online: Leaderboard | Event Homepage | Past Champions
Lenane returned from an afternoon rain delay and knocked down a 6-footer on the sixth hole to keep his momentum going the rest of the way. He didn't slow down, making birdie on holes 11, 15 and 18 coming home.
“I knew I was hitting it well, but I just kind of thought ‘All right, let’s just go hit another fairway, give ourselves another birdie look,'” Lenane told The Portland Press Herald after his round. “I really was just trying to give myself chances with the putter, because it’s felt good all week.”
Lenane continued to find greens in regulation Wednesday, something he'll hope to continue on Thursday.
“Treat it the same,” he said. “What I’ve been doing has been clearly working the last couple of days. … I’ve just got to treat it like it’s a regular round, there’s nothing to it.”
Manuel, a University of Georgia standout, is also seeking his first New England Amateur title after finished T2 back in 2021. He got off to a hot start with four birdies on the back nine, including a 210-yard approach on his third shot on the par-5 6th to set up a birdie. However, he gave three strokes back coming down the final stretch, giving Lenane more cushion heading into the final round. 
“I putted better but I hit it worse, so a little bit of a reverse [of Tuesday],” Manuel said said. “Just off the tee, I need to be in a little bit better position, I think. I’m still happy with the round and the result." 
Scollins started the week as an alternate for this event, but now he has an opportunity to win it. Despite a 41 in his opening nine Tuesday, he shot 32 on the back and has played the last 27 holes at 6-under-par. 
"I've been kind of going from there,” he said. “Today I was just thinking ‘Hit greens, make pars.'”
Maine native and Round 1 leader Mike Arsenault Jr., (Val Halla GC-ME) finished Round 1 tied for fifth at even par, along with Massachusetts' Thomas Harrison (Old Sandwich GC) and John Broderick (Dedham Country & Polo Club).
The final round begins at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. All groups will tee off from hole 1, with the lead group set to begin at 11:21 a.m.
​Leaderboard
1 - Joey Lenane; George Wright GC (MA); -7
2 - Caleb Manuel; Brunswick GC (ME); -3
T3 - Connor Goode; Glastonbury Hills CC (CT); -1
T3 - Ryan Scollins; (Bald Peak CC-NH); -1
T5 - Mike Arsenault, Jr, Val Halla GC (ME); E
T5 - Thomas Harrison; Old Sandwich GC (MA); E
T5 - John Broderick; Dedham C&PC (MA); E
T8 - Garren Poirier; Rutland CC (VT); +1
T8 - Henry Krieble; Hartford GC (CT); +1
T8 - Ethan Whitney; Oak Hill CC (MA); +1
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Top Scores From Each State
Connecticut – T3 (-1) Connor Goode; Glastonbury Hills CC
New Hampshire – T3 (-1) Ryan Scollins; Bald Peak CC
Maine – 2 (-3) Caleb Manuel; Brunswick GC
Massachusetts – 1 (-7) Joey Lenane; George Wright GC
Rhode Island – T11 (+2) Kevin Silva; Montaup CC
Vermont –  T8 (+1) Garren Poirier; Rutland CC
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About The Woodlands Club
Located just minutes outside of Portland, The Woodlands features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Jim and George Fazio that has hosted everything from state amateur events to Korn Ferry Tour events (formerly the Hogan Tour & Nike Tour).
The course debuted in 1988, with the project involving breaking and moving more than 35,000 cubic yards of rock.
This is the second time the New England Amateur is being held at Woodlands, the first being 2006 when Rhode Island's Brad Valois won by two strokes, shooting 1-under 287 over the 72-hole tournament. The championship is now contested over 54 holes.
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