Carolina blue skies and lower humidity greeted the 96 competitors for round 2 of the 2nd U.S. Adaptive Open Championship at Pinehurst Resort’s Course No. 6, setting the stage for players to jockey for position heading into Wednesday’s final round.
First-round leader Conor Stone of Ireland had another under-par score in the works before stumbling to a bogey-double bogey finish, allowing 25-year-old Kipp Popert of England to claim the 36-hole advantage after he fired a 3-under-par 69. Popert, who has cerebral palsy, stands at 5-under 139 for the championship, one stroke clear of Stone and two strokes ahead of defending men’s champion Simon Lee.
On the women’s side, first-round leader Ryanne Jackson, 25, of Seminole, Fla., improved by one stroke on Tuesday and completed a 3-over-par 75. Her 36-hole total of 7-over 151 is three strokes clear of defending women’s champion Kim Moore, of Battle Creek, Mich., who shot the best round of the day among women with a 1-over 73.
Jackson, who was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy as a college freshman, works as an EMT and will attend paramedic school in the fall. She is playing in her second U.S. Adaptive Open; she took home the medal as the winner of the Neurological Impairment category in 2022 and is in position for an even more significant victory this year.
“For the most part of the day, my driving was very consistent,” said Jackson. “I hit a lot of greens, made a lot of two-putts.
“It would mean a lot to win this,” she added. “I haven’t had many opportunities to be at the top of the leader board, so it’s a different experience. But it’s kind of a nice one.”
Popert parred his first five holes, then jump-started his round with an eagle on the sixth hole, a par 5 with a dogleg that Popert has the length to challenge.
“I hit a perfect drive, straight over the trees,” said Popert. “I had 175 in, hit a perfect 6-iron and then a perfect putt. It’s probably the first perfect hole I’ve ever played in my life. I really enjoyed that one.
“Anyone who knows me knows I love this. I love a putt to win. I love pressure. I’ve got a good friend on my bag, Ben, and we’re a good team. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
For Popert to finish on top, he will have to hold off Lee, who wasn’t as sharp on Tuesday after his 4-under 68 on Monday. Still, Lee knows what it takes to emerge as the champion, having prevailed over Felix Norrman in a two-hole playoff for the 2022 men’s title. Normann is not competing this year.
“I didn’t play very well today,” said Lee. “Several bogeys, a birdie, and I’m a little bit disappointed. If I don’t play like today, I think I can win. Need to make a lot of birdies.”
Likewise, Jackson will be keeping a close eye on defending champion Moore. The two will be grouped together for the final round.
“I think that will help,” said Moore about playing with the leader. “I think just staying patient out there again is going to be important, hitting the ball solid like I did today. Hopefully, that kind of stays with me.”
Not to be counted out for the men’s title is the only other player to complete 36 holes under par: Mike Browne of England, who has a leg impairment. Browne shot a 2-under-par 70 and stands at 2-under 142, three strokes off the lead.
“I obviously love the course, and it just suits my eye and suits my game,” said Browne. “I’m looking forward to hopefully being in the mix again tomorrow.”
Photos of the second round of the U.S. Adaptive Open in Pinehurst by Sandhills Sentinel photographer Wendy Hodges.
Contributed.
