Finch Takes Command at Port Royal as Bermudians Stay in Hunt
IslandStats.com
The second round of the Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championships has delivered a significant shift in momentum at Port Royal Golf Course, with Alabama’s Fletcher Finch emerging as the new clubhouse leader. On a day where the Atlantic gusts continued to test the field's patience and precision, Finch produced a resilient even-par 71 to move into pole position heading into the final round.
Finch’s scorecard was a testament to the aggressive play required to navigate the coastal layout, featuring an adventurous five birdies balanced by five bogeys. His two-day total of even par gives him a slender advantage over his fellow Birmingham native and overnight leader, SJ Thomas. Thomas, who entered the day with the lead, struggled to find the same clinical touch that defined his opening round, carding a two-over par 73 to sit one shot back for the tournament.
The chasing pack is bolstered by Konner Kubica of Michigan, who sits in third place with a combined score of three-over par. However, the local gallery remains firmly focused on the top of the leaderboard as Bermuda’s John Bart continues to impress. Bart produced a second consecutive round of 74 to remain at four-over par, a performance that sees him in a tie for fourth place and well within striking distance of the leaders.
Fellow Bermudian Oliver Betschart is also firmly in the mix, sitting just one stroke behind Bart. Despite a testing three-over par second round, Betschart’s five-over par total is enough to keep him in a tie for sixth. Further down the field, Arman Newton moved into a tie for 34th following a second round of 78, leaving him at 17-over par for the championship.
The Girls' Division has descended into a fascinating three-way deadlock at the summit. Annie Jin, Aubrey Hilgers, and Nikitha Suresh are all inseparable at the top of the standings, with the trio tied at one-over par after thirty-six holes. The battle for the title appears set for a dramatic conclusion tomorrow as the three leaders look to navigate the pressure of a final-round pairing.
For the local interest in the women’s field, Darina Betschart remains in a tie for 19th place. Betschart carded her second consecutive round of 83 to sit at 24-over par, and she will be looking to capitalise on her knowledge of the tricky Port Royal greens to climb the standings during the final eighteen holes. With the championship delicately poised in both divisions, tomorrow’s final round promises to be a showcase of nerves and skill on one of the game's most iconic stages.
