Vilips, Smylie lead Aussie quartet

Queensland left wing Elvis Smylie continues its impressive 2019 form in Toledo, Ohio. Photo: USGA

Four Aussies have reached the competition phase of the American boy amateur in Ohio.

Recently award-winning Australian Junior champion Elvis Smylie continues to make progress and will be the only "east coaster" left when the knockout phase starts tomorrow.

But there are three Western Australians safe in the last 64, despite each of them not enjoying their best round on day two at the famous Inverness Club in Toledo.

& # 39; Night leader Karl Vilips, currently the top-ranked international player for Junior Presidents Cup selection in Royal Melbourne in December, charted a two-over-par 73 dropping back to even par overall.

But the 17-year-old who lives in Florida remains Australia's best contender and will carry the No.10 seed to the game, despite a day he would rather forget on the greens.

"It was a tough day, probably one of the worst putting laps I have had this year," said Vilips.

"Still, a top-10 seed is fine, but if I go into match play, I will definitely have to change a few things because I have to make more birdies.

"I made one today, two yesterday. I think I'm going into match play, I have to be a little more aggressive and just work on the things that didn't fire today."

Smylie, from the Gold Coast, should theoretically also benefit from a good ranking, his second round 72 enough to finish in one and earn the No.14 seeding.

Good friends and Joondalup fellow students Josh Greer and Connor McKinney reaped the benefits of good first rounds and enjoyed the buffer they had offered.

Greer, who played no. 2 for WA in the recent Interstate Series in Hobart, started nervously on day two and fell to four over eight holes after a double-bogey on the par-four 17th.

But with typical grit he remained calm and birdied the 18th hole and played the front nine in even par to fire a 74 and continue with the No.47 seed at six left.

McKinney, unlike Greer who still represents his native Scotland, finished in the same score, despite having only one lead after the first day.

The former Australian Amateur medalist, who also started his round on the 10th, could not find a birdie until the seventh (his sixteenth), when he was a precarious six left for his round

He continued to bogey the closing two holes, but continued with the No.46 seed.

All four remaining Aussies are in the lower half of the draw.

Despite improved second-round performances by Gold Coaster Terry Yoon (+14) and Melbourne & # 39; s Tony Chen (+11), neither could finish in the eighth transfer line needed to reach a play-off for the finals of the game that will be completed tomorrow.

Medal winner awards were exchanged between William Moll, William Mouw and Ricky Castillo, who each finished four hours after 36 holes and would carry the best seedings to the match play.

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