Sports, Ink

By Jay Skurski

At the top: He's from Massachusetts, but Richy Werenski strikes the perfect California cool vibe. The 20-year-old Georgia Tech junior with a great name shot a sparkling 8-under 62 Thursday in the second round of the 54th Porter Cup to open a four-shot lead. Werenski, who's playing in his first Porter Cup, has yet to make a bogey.

In the hunt: Joining Werenski in the final group today will be defending champion Patrick Rodgers and Justin Thomas, the fifth- and sixth-ranked players in the world, by the Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings. No pressure. Thomas, the best collegiate golfer in the country, shot a 63 Thursday, while Rodgers carded "only" a 65. Also at 8 under, four shots back and tied with Rodgers and Thomas, is University of Florida senior Tyler McCumber. It's a great leader board, one that Tournament Director Steve Denn must have been hoping for before the tournament started.

Birdie barrage: The wind picked up and then the rain came in the afternoon, but you wouldn't know it by looking at some of the scorecards turned in Thursday. Lewiston's own Mike Boss ripped off five birdies in a row to start his back nine, shooting a round of 66. Werenski birdied four in a row and five of six holes. McCumber went five in a row and six of seven at one point in his round.

Locals go low: Boss' 66 was his career best at NFCC, where he's the club champion. Clarence's Matt Stasiak shot 3-under 67 in the second round to move up 26 spots in the field.

Buffalo's Chris Covelli also improved on his opening-round 74 by shooting a 73. It was a struggle for North Tonawanda's James Blackwell and Hamburg's Brian Jurkiewicz, though. They shot 77 and 79, respectively, and will be in the first group off the tee at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Quotable: "After that I really tried to hammer on the gas pedal and see how low I can go ... It was just a good day," -- Thomas, talking about his stretch of four straight birdies.

By Jay Skurski

At the top: University of Virginia sophomore Denny McCarthy, 19, shot a 6-under 64 to lead the 78-player field after the first round in the 54th Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston. A shot behind tied for second are University of Florida senior Trever McCumber and Texas A&M sophomore Tyler Dunlap.

Featured group: Defending champion Patrick Rodgers didn't do anything to hurt his chance of repeating, opening with a round of 3-under 67. Rodgers had back-to-back bogeys on the par-3 16th and par-4 17th, but made a big birdie on the par-3 18th to close the round with some momentum. Justin Thomas, the top-ranked college golfer in the country according to the Golf Week rankings, was cruising along nicely at 3 under before hitting the ball out of bounds on the 16th. He took a double bogey and finished the round 1 under, the same score as the third member of the threesome, 18-year-old Matt NeSmith.

My bad: Scott Harvey, a 34-year-old Mid-Amateur from Greensboro, N.C., shot a 2-under 68, but it could have been better. Harvey was assessed a two-stroke penalty for playing the wrong ball on the par-4 10th hole. The ball Harvey hit was a Titleist 2, like he was playing it, but after he hit it, he found his ball and saw its distinctive mark, meaning he played the wrong one.

Gotta go: The oldest player in the field, 49-year-old Mike McCoy, recorded a nice 4-under 66 as part of the third group off the tee. The reason for the early tee time? McCoy, who works in the insurance industry, had to get to a business meeting in Toronto. He talked with this reporter while waiting in line on the bridge to Canada.

Locals report: Niagara Falls Country Club club champion Mike Boss was the low Western New Yorker with a 3-over round of 73. Buffalo's Chris Covelli and Clarence's Matt Stasiak both shot rounds of 4-over 74, tied for 70th, while North Tonawanda's James Blackwell and Hamburg's Brian Jurkiewicz carded 5-over 75s, in a tie for 75th.

Quotable: "You’re dealing with a lot as a Mid-Am. You’re married, you have a family, you’re working. You feel like you should just get a medal for being here for five days in a row," 33-year-old Nathan Smith, on how tough it is for the older players to compete against college-age opponents.

Follow me on Twitter, @JaySkurski, for updates from Round Two on Thursday.

A 35-foot birdie putt to halve No. 16 was the dagger as Joey Savoie of Quebec won fhe International Junior Masters this afternoon, 2-up, over North Tonawanda's James Blackwell at East Aurora CC. Blackwell conceded the 18th hole and the match after an aggressive chip for birdie resulted in a 12-foot downhill putt that slid by the hole. Savoie is fhe Quebec Junior champion.

-- Bob DiCesare

Details to follow

Savoie rolls in 40 footer to halve 16 with birdies.-- BD

James Blackwell has won last two holes to draw even for first time since No. 1 --BD

Joey Savoie is two holes up on James Blackwell after 9 in the IJM title match at East Aurora. Blackwell made a 50-footer to win No. 8.
--BD

James Blackwell has won the last two holes and is 1 down to Joey Savoie through six.

Bob DiCesare

Joey Savoie, the reigning Quebec junior and juvenile champion, leads James Blackwell 3-up through four holes of the title match at the International Junior Masters. Savoie nearly double-eagled No. 3 and birdied No. 4.

--Bob DiCesare

James Blackwell advaced to this afternoon's final of the International Junior Masters with a 1-up victory over Colombian David Marin. Marin won No. 17 but missed a 3-foot birdie putt on 18 that would have forced sudden death. Blackwell faces Joey Savoie of Quebec, who routed Matt VanNiekerk 7 and 5 in the other semifinal. Jacob Kreuz of Amherst has advanced to the championshp consolation final.

-- Bob DiCesare