Former 2009 Callaway Assistant Champion and 2009 Assistant
Player of the Year Blair Shadday of Purgatory fired his lowest 9-hole score, a
very impressive 29 on the front at Woodland CC Monday to take sole possession
of the lead with 18 to play. His rounds of 68-69=137 gave him a two shot
cushion over IU’s Jamie Broce (69-70=139), who is all too familiar with sitting
in second behind Shadday in this event. In 2009 Broce occupied second to Shadday after the
first 36, but his chances at the title were washed away when heavy rains
canceled the final day. Rain isn’t in the forecast for Tuesday, and he can
avenge his prior fate in the heat. They will also have to contend with
defending champion Jeff Schulz of Brickyard crossing who carded the low round
of the day in the afternoon, 67.
“I got off to a bad start,” explained Shadday, who started
on 10. “I was pretty down after shooting 39 my first nine because I just gave
away all the shots I gained this morning.” But a quick birdie at 1 changed his
momentum. “Then on 3 I went into the par 5 with the wind and hit my 5-iron to 12
feet and made eagle,” he said. He followed that up on the next par 5 by giving
himself an easy two-putt birdie at the 4th. But his birdie at the 5th
was trickier. “I went hard left off the tee and had to open up my 60-degree
straight up over a tree. I knocked it to about a foot,” he laughed. Although he
temporarily lost focus at 6 and 7, he was able to find two more birdies before
closing out his round.
“Going to nationals was a good experience. I didn’t perform
like I would have liked to, so I’d love to get back there,” said Shadday.
“There are some good players there.” A win would allow him to redeem his
previous national performance. The top four players will advance to the
National Callaway Golf Assistant Championship in Port St. Lucie, Flor., in
November.
See current standings here.