Tracy Ohio Amateur halfway leader

Among those making it to the third round Alex Tahy, 13, of Dayton.

FINDLAY (AP) — Hilliard native Ethan Tracy shot a 2-under 69 to take a two-stroke lead through 36 holes of the 102nd Ohio Amateur golf championship at Findlay Country Club.

Tracy, who will play at the University of Arkansas this fall, followed an opening round of 67 and stood at 6-under 136 after Wednesday’s second round of the 72-hole medal-play tournament.

In second place was former Ohio State player Chad Coconis of Zanesville, who had a second consecutive 69 and was at 138. If he wins the tournament, Coconis plans to turn pro immediately afterward on Friday so he can play for pay in the upcoming Ohio Open.

Indiana University’s Alex Martin of Middletown shot a 72 and was at 139. Florida Southern’s Matthew Stauch had a 71 and was at 140.

Past winner and first-round co-leader Kevin Kornowa didn’t have a birdie in a 74 that left him 1-under 141. He was tied with Miami University sophomore Michael Drobnick of Hilliard, who had a 71.

The wind picked up in the afternoon, causing several players to fall back. Most were victimized by the greens, which were drying out and speeding up, and some hit the rough, which snagged errant shots.

The conditions made the course extremely difficult. The hardest hole is the 410-yard, par-4 10th, which surrendered just four birdies — as opposed to 17 double bogeys and five scores higher than that.

Kyle Cobb of Strongsville, a Cleveland State player, shared the first-round lead with Tracy, Martin and Kornowa at 67, but he fell to a 77 on Wednesday.

The 1990 Ohio Am winner, Steve Anderson of Hobe Sound, Fla., shot a 4-under 31 on the front side but had three double-bogeys in a 7-over 43 on the back in a 74.

Stephen Kuntz of Vermilion was tied for 10th after a first-round 70 but ballooned to an 83 and missed the cut.

The field was pared to the low 60 scores and ties after the round, with the cut number moving steadily up until it hit 10-over 152.

Among those making it to the third round is 13-year-old Alex Tahy from suburban Dayton — believed to be the youngest player ever in the Ohio Am.

Tahy will have quite a story to tell when he returns to school and the subject is what he did on his summer vacation. He had rounds of 75 and 73 to easily make the cut.

Chad Merzbacher of Dublin, a 14-year-old, had one of the biggest improvements, going from an opening 78 to a 69 to get to 147 and survive for at least another round.