SundayMidDay

Northern Californians Marin, Wilson Grab Early Lead For Medalist Honors

Kiawah Island, S.C. – A pair of northern Californians, Chris Marin, 31, of Monterey, and Jeff Wilson, 46, of Fairfield, shot even-par rounds Sunday morning to hold the early lead for medalist honors at 1-under-par 142 on the second day of stroke play at the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur at The Kiawah Island Club.

Marin shot 72 at Cassique and Wilson, a four-time Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist and three-time medalist, shot 71 at The River Course.

A caddie at Del Monte Golf Course which is one of Pebble Beach Golf Links’ four properties, Marin had a nervous start making four birdies in his first seven holes. Beginning with birdies on holes 8 and 9, he tallied five in a stretch of eight holes to turn his day around.

“I came in here expecting to play good and that was a goal to finish near the top and get the medalist,” said Marin, a first-time U.S. Mid-Amateur participant. “I didn’t play as well as I could but it’s still looking good.”

Caddieing allows Marin to play his fair share of golf.

“I play a lot. I make sure I do,” Marin said. “I caddie so I can pick and choose when I work. If I work 10 days a month, that’s a busy month. I’m playing golf the rest of the time.”

Wilson, meanwhile, is a veteran of the championship with a slew of success. He was medalist in 2000, 2001 and 2004 and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2008. He is avoiding looking that far in 2009.

“You can’t think that way,” said Wilson, a car dealer who was low amateur at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. “You’ve just got to go out and play as hard as you can. Hopefully, you’ll keep playing the way I’ve been playing.”

His round at The River Course included four birdies and four bogeys. But he closed with birdies at 15, 16 and 18, the latter being a 15-footer at one of the most-challenging holes, a 440-yard, par-4 that statistically ranks as the third-hardest on the course.

“I played pretty well,” Wilson said. “I got off to a little bit of a slow start both days but I played pretty well.”

The leaders from Saturday’s first round, Mike McCoy, 46, of West Des Moines, Iowa, Cameron Mackenzie, 27, of Canada; Taylor Massey, 32, of Richmond, Va.; and Derek Berg, 28, of Duvall, Wash.; had afternoon starting times.

Story written by Pete Kowalski, manager of championship media relations for the USGA. E-mail him with questions or comments at pkowalski@usga.org.