Blake Morris masters wind, leads South Beach International Amateur by one

University of Mississippi sophomore Blake Morris shot a 1-under-par 70 at Miami Beach to take the lead.

On Day 2 of the South Beach International Amateur, the winds of Miami Beach Golf Club crashed many who sailed over from a strong first day at Normandy Shores. Ole Miss sophomore Blake Morris, a victim last year, kept his ship steady enough to emerge with the 36-hole lead.

Morris shot a 1-under 70 at Miami Beach for a two-day total of 3-under 138, good enough for a one-shot lead on Texas Tech freshman Corbin Kasten, Central Florida senior Gregory Eason and France’s Mathieu Decottignies.

Two back at 1-under 140 were Hollywood’s Kristian Caparros, who shot a 68 at Miami Beach; France’s Victor Perez; Virginia Tech senior Bryce Chalkley, pushed up the board by a 4-under 67, the day’s best round at Miami Beach; and Day 1 co-leader Northwestern sophomore Andrew Whalen, shooter of a 3-over 74 at Miami Beach.

The tournament’s final two rounds will be played Saturday and Sunday at the par-71 Miami Beach Golf Club.

Whalen shared the first day lead with Vanderbilt sophomore Carson Jacobs and Sweden’s Tim Widing. Jacobs’ 6-over 76 at Normandy Shores Friday dropped him to 2-over 143.

Widing and fellow Swedish juniors Victor Theandersson and Felix Kvarnstrom came tumbling down the leaderboard Friday at Miami Beach after superb rounds Thursday at Normandy Shores. Widing followed his 4-under 66 with a 4-over 75. Kvarnstrom also shot a 4-over 75, leaving him at 2-over 143. Theandersson’s 11-over 82 dropped him from a tie for sixth to missing the cut, which was at 6-over 147.

"Normandy is a bit easier as a golf course," Swedish national coach Jonnie Eriksson said. "The conditions were a bit tougher today as well. We have a pretty young team. So we’ll probably get some good rounds…and some less good rounds. It’s OK. I think they did fairly well today as well."

The juniors in the Swedish contingent, which include national team members and five who paid their own way, go back Monday after a week in Florida. While giving the usual reasons for coming – weather, quality of course, the tournament – Eriksson said the trip is also a carrot.

"The timing is perfect for us," he said. "We’ve had two months of training indoors. To get through those two months, you have to look forward to something."