WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Tim Fisher is not, by nature, a superstitious person.

But with a possible second West Virginia State Amateur title in the balance ...

“My caddie, Matt Sisson, is from Sissonville,” Fisher said. “When I won (the state am) in ’05, my caddie (Mark Thaxton) was from Sissonville. And I was talking to someone and they told me that the last time the format here was switched (this year’s tournament started on the Greenbrier course and will end on Old White Thursday) Harold Payne won it. And I played with Harold Payne on the first day of the tournament (Monday).”

Fisher fired the only under-par round Tuesday with a 69 to take a one shot lead over defending champion Anthony Reale as the Amateur switches to the Greenbrier course today.

“I don’t believe (in superstitions), but (Sisson) brought it up,” Fisher said. “Maybe ... you never know.”

Sisson had played in the tournament early, but didn’t make the cut.

“He didn’t have a good tournament,” Fisher said. “But he did a really good job for me. He did a great job read putts.”

Lingering one stroke back (139) is Reale, who along with Justin Caroli, made up Tuesday’s final group.

Reale shot even-par 70.

Behind Reale is Marshall golfer Christian Brand (70-71—141) and Caroli.

“I felt great off the tee,” said Caroli, who scrambled with several great saves on the day. “My long game was great. But when I had wedges or short irons in my hand, it wasn’t my game. But I have to be happy with a 72. It could have been worse. I made several crucial shots. The main thing is I’m still there.”

The Old White, typically the site of the tournament’s first and third round, didn’t allow anyone to go low, which is also typical.

“This golf course is constantly in your face,” said Brand, playing in his fifth state amateur. “I didn’t have my best game. But I got it in the hole and found a way to shoot a good score.”

The state’s most consistent amateur, Pat Carter, finished with a 71 on the Old White, and is fifth, tied with Chapmanville’s Mike Veres at 142.

For the second day in a row, Carter struggled early, sitting at three-over through the first 12 holes.

But he brought it down with birdies on 15 and 16.

“Fifteen and 16 must be my lucky numbers this year because I birdied those two holes (Monday on the Greenbrier course),” Carter said. “I had a real good putting round.”

The only short putt he missed was on No. 12, when he putted the ball to within 18 inches, but there was a spike mark right in front of his line to the hole. The putt hit the spike mark and didn’t drop.

“There was nothing I could do about it,” Carter said.

The scene shifts back to the Greenbrier course today and that has Fisher brimming with confidence.

“After shooting a 69 on (Old White) I have to be happy,” Fisher said. “Considering that my best on this course had been a 75. Any time I can have the lead going back (to the Greenbrier have to be excited. I like my chances.”

Locally, Lindside’s Michael Hines (146), Lester’s Mike Mays (148), White Sulphur’s Lannie Clinebell (148), Alderson’s Josh Boswell (149), Canvas’ Josh Arbaugh (149), Princeton’s Scott Miller (149), Crab Orchard’s Kelly Shumate (151), Lewisburg’s Justin Windon (152) and Alderson’s Nathan Flint (152) all made the cut, which came at 152.

— E-mail:

demorrison@register-herald.com



W.Va. Amateur scores

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS (AP) — Scores after the second round of the West Virginia Amateur golf tournament Tuesday at The Greenbrier resort. The first round was played on the 6,675-yard, par-72 Greenbrier course. The second round was played on the 6,790-yard, par-70 Old White course:

Tim Fisher, Statts Mills 69-69 — 138

Anthony Reale, Glenville 69-70 — 139

Christian Brand, Charleston 70-71 — 141

Justin Caroli, Bridgeport 69-72 — 141

Michael Veres, Chapmanville 72-70 — 142

Pat Carter, Huntington 71-71 — 142

Carson Schambach, Wheeling 72-71 — 143

Matthew Gissy, Weston 73-71 — 144

Trent Roush, Mason 75-70 — 145

Bosten Miller, Charleston 72-73 — 145

Sam O’Dell, Hurricane 72-73 — 145

Kenneth Hess, Parkersburg 70-75 — 145

Matt Hicks, Sissonville 70-75 — 145

Clark Priddy, Nitro 76-70 — 146

Trevor Hedges, Martinsburg 75-71 — 146

Michael Hines, Lindside 72-74 — 146

Will Johnson, Charleston 72-74 — 146

Jamie Whitt, Huntington 76-71 — 147

Stephen Fox, Huntington 73-74 — 147

Michael Mays, Lester 74-74 — 148

Lannie Clinebell Jr., Wh.Sul.Springs 74-74 — 148

Josh Boswell, Alderson 78-71 — 149

Ben Palmer, Parkersburg 78-71 — 149

Joshua Arbaugh, Canvas 76-73 — 149

David Fields, Fort Gay 75-74 — 149

Jeff Bryant, South Charleston 72-77 — 149

Scott Miller, Princeton 72-77 — 149

Stacey Shy, Huntington 78-72 — 150

Zachary Yochum, Wheeling 76-74 — 150

Patton Couch, Logan 76-74 — 150

Aaron Boggs, Madison 74-76 — 150

Bryan Snow, Ranson 72-78 — 150

Jim Grimmett, Davin 78-73 — 151

Kelly Shumate, Crab Orchard 77-74 — 151

Phil DiLorenzo, Weirton 76-75 — 151

Jeremy Tucker, Mason 74-77 — 151

Scott Bodden, Huntington 71-80 — 151

Sam Booth, Hurricane 80-72 — 152

Justin Windon, Lewisburg 78-74 — 152

Nathan Flint, Alderson 79-73 — 152

Nathan Kinker, Barboursville 77-75 — 152

Jeffrey Estep, Bridgeport 76-76 — 152

Craig McGlothlin, Huntington 74-78 — 152

Tad Tomblin, Man 72-80152

Missed Cut

John Duty Sr., Hurricane 79-74 — 153

Brandon Tinney, Richwood 77-76 — 153

Bryan Myers, Wheeling 76-77 — 153

Jeremy Rogers, Buckhannon 82-72 — 154

Scott Prince, Daniels 80-74 — 154

Jeff Whitman, Hurricane 76-78 — 154

Aaron Barna, Hurricane 76-78 — 154

Aaron Hunting, Barboursville 76-78 — 154

Matt Pellillo, Fairmont 76-78 — 154

Ryan Mason, Bridgeport 75-79 — 154

Zach Rudy, Fairmont 82-73 — 155

Jay Woodward, Bridgeport 79-76 — 155

Harold Payne, Hurricane 78-77 — 155

Ryan Stewart, Barboursville 80-76 — 156

Chuck Workman, Marlinton 78-78 — 156

Levi Stevens, Rockview 77-79 — 156

Michael Koreski, Parkersburg 74-82 — 156

Ian Patrick, Huntington 82-75 — 157

Travis Woodford, Glenville 78-79 — 157

Mitch Roush, Mason 84-74 — 158

Harry Howell, Madison 81-77 — 158

Paul Kurtz, Wheeling 79-79 — 158

Mike Marrara, Morgantown 82-77 — 159

Keith Palmer, Parkersburg 81-78 — 159

Izaak Mendelson, Morgantown 81-78 — 159

Van James III, Lewisburg 79-80 — 159

Chris Palmer, Wheeling 77-82 — 159

Chris Tipper, Vienna 81-79 — 160

Dennis Vass, Beckley 81-79 — 160

Doug Kirkpatrick, Grafton 78-82 — 160

Richard Moore, Spencer 76-84 — 160

Jason Holstein, Hurricane 81-80 — 161

Mike Keiffer, Elkview 78-83 — 161

Aaron Kemlock, Oak Hill 84-78 — 162

Al Estepp, St. Albans 81-81 — 162

Swanson Smith, Charleston 80-82 — 162

Josh Bower, Scott Depot 78-84 — 162

Alan Beddow, Morgantown 80-83 — 163

Phillip Shrewbury II, Peterstown 81-83 — 164

Phil Zambos, Huntington 81-83 — 164

Ira Lee, Beckley 79-85 — 164

Dylan Alasky, Fairmont 84-81 — 165

Bruce Wetherholt, Barboursville 82-83 — 165

Craig Fenton, Williamstown 79-86 — 165

Joseph Rogers, Buffalo 77-88 — 165

Bryan Lewis, Martinsburg 83-83 — 166

Reuben Prillaman, Oceana 87-80 — 167

Michael Gervais, Bridgeport 84-84 — 168

Chris Carter, Tornado 82-86 — 168

Brian Meador, Morgantown 91-78 — 169

Jared Harper, Barboursville 81-88 — 169

Matt Sisson, Sissonville 84-86 — 170

Ara Hopkins, Smithers 85-86 — 171

Stewart Myers, Beckley 87-87 — 174

P.J. Gibbs, New Haven 96-94 — 190

Anthony Zappin, Huntington 75-DQ — DQ

Will Lively, Charleston 88-WD — WD