Kevin Miller leads at Ohio Amateur

Associated Press

KETTERING

Every time Kevin Miller stood over a putt, the result was the same.

Off the green, from short range or from another area code, the ball always found the cup.

The Kent State junior shot a late 6-under 65 on Tuesday to forge a three-stroke lead at the 105th Ohio Amateur golf championship, with defending champion Michael Bernard adding one of the few subpar rounds at NCR Country Club.

Miller — who said his closest friends and Golden Flashes teammates know him for his accuracy off the tee and with irons — was stupefied as anyone by his career putting day.

“I was making everything,” said the Sugarcreek native, a state medalist on two state championship teams at Garaway High School. “My putter was red hot. I was making everything I looked at, even a couple of 30-foot-plus putts. That really helps.”

It got so that even Miller’s two playing partners were dumbstruck.

“They didn’t say much,” he said with a grin. “They were pretty much shocked.”

The 65 matched the lowest round he’d ever shot, in the 2010 Ohio Publinx at Cook’s Creek just south of Columbus.

So beyond the pale was Miller’s putting that he was able to joke about it.

“I’m a pretty solid putter — but I usually don’t make my lag putts like I did a few times today,” he cracked.

Ashland University’s Jay Overy and Ohio State’s Logan Jones shot 68s and were tied for second.

The 72-hole medal-play tournament continues through Friday.