Justin Shin, 21, of Canada, fired a 4-under-par 66 at Charles River Country Club on Tuesday morning to move into contention for medalist honors at 3-under-par 137 for 36 holes at the midway point of the second day of stroke play at the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship.
Shin, a senior at the University of New Mexico, posted five birdies, four on his inward nine, against one bogey at the 6,547-yard, par-70 layout in nearby Newton. Charles River serves as the companion course to The Country Club in Brookline.
The winner of the 2012 Northeast Amateur, Shin is playing in his third U.S. Amateur.
"I didn't hit the ball as good today as yesterday, but I putted better, Shin said. I was lucky with the draw today with the greens being softer. The course here was in great shape and a little easier than yesterday (TCC). I was able to be more aggressive today.
Nick Hardy, 17, of Northbrook, Ill., who held the lead after the first day with a 5-under-par 65 at Charles River, had an afternoon starting time. Four players who shot 67 on Monday – Englishmen Neil Raymond, 27, and Matthew Fitzpatrick, 18, the low amateur at the 2013 British Open; Bryson Dechambeau, 19, of Clovis, Calif., and Tyler Klava, 21, of Pace, Fla. – also had afternoon starting times at Charles River.
Bo Andrews, 23, of Raleigh, N.C., shot a 7-under-par 63 at Charles River on Tuesday morning, the low round of the championship to this point. One of six players in the field from Georgia Tech, Andrews logged six birdies and an eagle against one bogey to finish at 139 through 36 holes.
The 63 broke the competitive course record at Charles River, surpassing the 64 shot in the 2003 USGA Men’s State Team Championship by Ricky Jones of Maine.
When I came over here today, I didn't have a score in mind, Andrews said, who is playing in his first USGA championship. I knew that if I played my game I would be OK. I didn't know I had the course record until someone came over and told me. I know, though, if you shoot in the low 60s, you have a chance. I am not sure what I am going to do with the ball. If someone from the club comes over and asks me for it, I will give it to them. I might bring it back to school and put it in the case."
Another Georgia Tech player, Richy Werenski, 22, of South Hadley, Mass., who shot 4-under-par 66 at Charles River on Monday, which included a double eagle 2, followed with a 3-over-par 73 at The Country Club for a two-round total of one-under 139.
Also at 139 was Stewart Jolly, 20, of Birmingham, Ala., who shot a 5-under-par 65 at Charles River on Tuesday.
Defending champion Steven Fox, 22, of Hendersonville, Tenn., who shot 2-over-par 72 Monday at The Country Club, also plays in the afternoon.
Pete Kowalski is the director of championship communications at the USGA. E-mail him at pkowalski@usga.org.