Golf

By SHANE STARK Staff Writer Pablo Acuna spent Friday afternoon alone atop of the leaderboard, preparing for a weekend getting chased by the remaining field.

But just before dusk, a pillar fell from his lead.

It came in the form of Martin Piller, a former top amateur making his professional debut. The former Texas A&M standout fired a tournament-low 64 to enter the final two rounds of the Texas State Open alongside Acuna at 7-under 133.

The four-stroke comeback at The Cascades Golf Club almost came in even better fashion. Piller, a Duncanville High School graduate, would’ve been alone in first had bogey not come on No. 17.

The tournament is scheduled to resume this morning, with the top 55 and ties (2 over) having survived the cut. Acuna and Piller hold a one-stroke lead over amateurs Dustin Garza and Bobby Massa, in addition to Scott Abbott.

Acuna, whose only professional title came two months ago in his native Guatemala, was part of the morning group. He bogeyed his first hole, but then played 1-under the rest of the front nine before removing another stroke after the turn for a 2-under 68.

“I played really well today,” said Acuna, a former two-time All-Conference USA selection at the University of Houston. “Believe it or not, I played better than yesterday. It just felt good.”

What felt best was the manner in which he drove the ball. One who prefers the firm greens at The Cascades, Acuna said he improved his score with clubs outside his putter.

“I hit a lot better shots today,” he said. “I feel like yesterday I putted better. Today, I hit the ball close a lot of the time.”

And at times, he hit the ball really close — perhaps even too close.

On par 4 No. 15, Acuna hit an approach that hit the pin and bounced into the water to leave him with a bogey. And on par 3 No. 5, his tee shot landed in the hole but popped out to a couple feet away.

“I feel like I played a lot better than my score resembled,” Acuna said. “But I never got down on myself.”

In the afternoon, Piller quietly scaled the leaderboard following an opening-round 69. He dazzled onlookers with six birdies, and even recorded a hole-in-one — the second of the tournament — on No. 5.

Close behind are Massa, Garza and Abbott.

Massa and Garza are trying to become the State Open’s second-ever amateur champion. Homero Blancas completed the feat in 1960 before a career on the PGA Tour.

Massa and Abbott each have rounds of 68 and 66, while Garza has recorded 66 and then 68. Massa, the younger brother of The Cascades assistant pro Cody Massa, missed the cut the last two years.

“I’m hitting it a little better than last year,” said Massa, a UT-Arlington golfer who had seven second-round birdies. “This is just a stepping stone. I’m hoping to play professionally, and this is a good experience.”

Meanwhile, two of the tournament’s tri-leaders played to even par on Day 2 but fell back in the standings. Ryan Posey and Christopher Ward, an amateur, are tied for sixth at 5-under.

Ward, a member of the Texas Tech golf team, fell apart on the opening nine at 3-over for the day. But birdies on four of the last six holes allowed Ward to remain well in contention.

“I was pretty upset, shooting three-over on the front like that was not really what I wanted of course,” Ward said. “My caddie Josh Hobbs kept me in it. He said ‘Just one shot a time and keep plugging away.’ And we had a goal to shoot even-par total, and that’s where I ended up at. So, I really thank him for doing that.”

Shaun Melville and Adam Crawford are also at 5-under.

PABLO ACUNA, of Houston, tees off on the 16th hole during second-round action of the Texas State Open on Friday at The Cascades Golf Club. Acuna shot a 68 and is tied for the overall lead.
((Staff Photo By Tom Turner))