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LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – A new leader emerged during round two of the 81st NYS Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur Championship.

Kellen Dean of McGregor Links CC fired an impressive 5-under 66 through intermittent rain on Lake Placid Club’s Links Course. His scorecard included six birdies, with five on the final eight holes of the golf course. He fired a 31 on his way back in through the links layout, including a chip-in on the 17th hole after hitting his tee ball into the deep native grasses protecting the hole.

Related: Championship Central / Results / Photos 

His two-day total is 6-under 136, which gives him a three-stroke cushion heading into tomorrow morning’s final round of action.

"I definitely got hot on the back nine, and that helped. Thankfully no storms that would take away the round. All in all, really good solid putting round at the end," Dean said.

Sitting at 3-under 139 is Dean Muratore of Met PGA Junior GC. He followed up his first-round 70 with a 69 on Thursday and recorded an eagle on the 535-yard fifth hole.

"I struck the ball well. I hit the driver well. Left a few putts out there, but all in all I felt like I played very well," said Muratore. Obviously this is more prestigious than other tournaments so it would be great to win this one, but nothing changes, play my game, see what happens and take it from there.

Tyler Berkman (68-72) of Potsdam Town & CC will join Dean and Muratore in the final group tomorrow. He was in the final group during last year’s championship at Soaring Eagles as well.

Three players sit at 1-under par including Braydon Dock (71-71) of Glens Falls CC, Owen Jessop (71-71) of Westhampton CC, and first-round leader Dante Bertoni (67-74) of En-Joie GC.

Three more sit at even par including Jakub Sutor of Met PGA Junior GC, YiWen Wang of Saxon Woods GC, Tommy Mangan of Apawamis Club.

Two-time Boys’ 14U champion, who moved up to the older division this year, followed up an opening-round 76 yesterday with a bogey-free 3-under 68 today. He sits at 2-over 144, along with Liam Moloney of The GC at Mansion Ridge.

A 36-hole cut was applied to the field, and forty-four players remain for tomorrow’s final round. This is the first year that the event is a 54-hole stroke play format.

The course was set up at 6,476 yards for the Boys’ 18U Junior and played to a par of 71. This is the first year that the event is a 54-hole stroke play format.

Tee times for tomorrow’s final round begin at 7:00am, with the leaders set to tee off at 9:34am.

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In the 60th NYS Girls’ Junior Amateur, three players sit under par after two rounds on the Mountain Course at Lake Placid Club.

Nina Choe of Pelham CC gained traction on the field after a 3-under 68 on Thursday boosted her into the top spot. Her two round total is 2-under 140.

"I played really steady today, I made a lot of important putts that I didn't make yesterday," said Choe. "That was the biggest difference between today and yesterday."

She recorded five birdies, and eight pars through the first thirteen holes, before giving a couple strokes back ont he way in with bogeys on holes 15 and 18.

One stroke behind her is first-round leader Jordan Levitt of Bedford, and 2022 champion Sophia Lia of MGA eClub – NYC. The trio was paired together in round two, and the pairing will remain the same for tomorrow’s final.

Amelie Phung of Bonnie Briar CC sits at 2-over 144 after a 1-under 70 on Thursday.

2023 NYS Women’s Amateur Champion, Lily Zhang of Park CC, came back with an even-par 71 after posting 77 in round one. Her 36-hole total is 148.

2021 NYS Girls’ Junior champion, Julia Zigrossi of Ridgemont is at 7-over 148 (77-72). Tied with her at the number is Daniella Elizabeth Sutor of Met PGA Junior GC.

A 36-hole cut was applied to the field, and twenty-four players remain for tomorrow’s final round. This is the first year that the event is a 54-hole stroke play format.

The course was set up at 5,493 yards for the Girls’ 18U Junior and played to a par of 71.

Tee times for tomorrow’s final round begin at 7:00am, with the leaders set to tee off at 8:17am.