Heading into the second round of the 103rd Indiana Open Championship, Brian Maurer of Williamsburg, Ind. knew he needed to make a move after a first round even-par, 72 left him four shots behind the leaders. The two-time and defending Indiana Open champion did just that by firing a 7-under-par 65, in round two.
Maurer said the biggest difference from his round one 72 to his round two 65 was his ability to make putts. “My caddie and I struggled with reads yesterday,” Maurer said. “We came up with a formula for the second round and we used it very well today.”
Maybe the most impressive part of Maurer’s 7-under round was the fact that he had zero bogeys at the very difficult Prairie View Golf Club, where trouble awaits on every hole.
Maurer holds a one shot lead over Patrick Allgeier of Fort Wayne, Ind. and Thomas Lewis of Carmel, Ind. Lewis had impressive round himself, carding a 5-under-par, 67. Allgeier kept up the consistent play, firing a second consecutive 3-under-par, 69.
“I hit the ball really well and putted really well so far this week,” Allgeier said. “If you would have told me I was going to be six-under through two rounds I would have taken that every time.”
The leaderboard is crowded heading into the final round as 23 players are under par and nine players are within just three shots of the lead. Maurer is accustomed to this however, as he lead last year heading into the final round.
A win this week would give Maurer his third Indiana Open Championship, a feat which only eleven other players can claim. Maurer says he is ready to take on the challenge.
“I grew up dreaming about getting just one,” Maurer said. "With a chance to win tomorrow is an incredible feeling and honor. I grew up watching some of those guys with multiple Indiana Open wins and to be mentioned in the same breath as them would be amazing.”
After today’s round, the field was cut to top 70 and ties at 7-over-par, 151. Tee times will begin tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. off of hole one.