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MANCHESTER — The way Jacob Sollon capped off another brilliant day of golf Tuesday drew awe from one gentleman at Augusta Country Club.

As cars passed in front of them along Western Avenue, several spectators watched from across the street as competitors finished their rounds with the 18th hole. When Sollon’s turn came, he sank a tough birdie putt to finish this round at 7-under 63. 

“That’s another one for him,” the man exclaimed. “Unbelievable.”

Yes, this round by Sollon on Day 2 outdid even the 6-under 64 that put him in the lead on Day 1. At 13-under overall, the Venetia, Pennsylvania, native takes a four-shot lead over of Kevin Johnson into the final round of the tournament on Wednesday.

After a torrid start to Monday’s round that included five birdies on the first eight holes, Sollon’s early pace Tuesday was nearly as hot. He birdied four of over the first seven holes and avoided bogeying No. 9 this time to shoot 31 on the front nine for the second straight day.

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In another parallel to Monday, Sollon started the back nine with birdie on 10 and ended it with one on 18. He added a birdie on 16 and made pars on the other six holes to complete a bogey-free round.

Jacob Sollon, of Venetia, Pennsylvania, putts on third hole during the second round. Sollon shot 6-under in the first round and 7-under in the second round. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)

“I played pretty well again,” Sollon said. “I drove it pretty well, and I hit it close, for the most part. … I missed a few putts in there that I should have made, but to be standing here right now at 13-under, I can’t complain.”

Johnson, who finished Monday in second, stayed there, shooting 4-under 66 on Tuesday to move to 9-under for the tournament. The Bethesda, Maryland, native shot 1-under on the front nine before going 3-under on the back nine to move past James Imai (7-under overall; 5-under 65 Tuesday) into second.

Johnson birdied No. 5 and made par on the front nine’s other eight holes. He was up and down on the back, with birdies on 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 18, and bogeys on 10, 15 and 17.

“That was a little rollercoaster, so I was trying not to get too mad, honestly, and keep myself in it going into tomorrow,” Johnson said. “Not making a single par on the back nine was pretty impressive. … I putted a lot worse today, but I was hitting the ball well.”

Ethan Whitney of Westminster, Massachusetts (6-under overall; 4-under 66 Tuesday) and Nick Pandelena of Atkinson, New Hampshire (6-overall; 2-under 68 Tuesday) closed out the day tied for fourth.

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William Celiberti hits a shot from the third fairway. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)

Pandelena registered his only bogey of the tournament thus far on No. 9 after notching a birdie on No. 8. A somewhat smoother back nine highlighted by birdies on 12 and 16, though, kept Pandelena in the top five entering the final day. 

“I unfortunately had a sloppy bogey on 9 where I hit the wrong club, made not a great swing and got stuck on a root,” Pandelena said. “On the back nine, I probably could have snuck a couple more in, but it was definitely tighter.”

Pandelena said Tuesday’s pin placements were tougher than they were on Day 1 but also called them fair. With Sollon so far out in front, Pandelena thinks some aggressive play might be required for someone else to walk away with the trophy on Wednesday.

“With the tournament being in August instead of June, the ground is a little bouncier, and you’ve got to think about what the ball’s going to do on the ground a little bit more,” Pandelena said. “Sometimes that means you can play a little bit conservative, but with what the lead is tomorrow, you’re going to have to go for it.”

Shawn Warren of Falmouth posted an 8-under 62 — the best score of any player all day — to move into first in the Maine pro division and sixth overall at 4-under. J.J. Harris of Windham also enjoyed a strong day, registering a 5-under 65 to get back to even-par for the tournament and second among Maine pros.

Luke Ruffing of Sidney (3-under 67) moved atop the amateur field at 2-under overall. Jack Quinn of Randolph finished (1-under 69) is a stroke back of Ruffing, while Will Kannegieser of Cambridge, Massachusetts, shot an even 70 for the second day in a row to stay two back.

Mike Mandell came to the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel in April 2022 after spending five and a half years with The Ellsworth American in Hancock County, Maine. He came to Maine out of college after...

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