72nd Delaware Amateur: Day Two

Micholas and Irons surge to a share of #DelawareAmateur lead

WYOMING, Del. – When Blake Micholas entered high school at the Bullis School in Potomac, Md., he was 5-foot tall and only weighed 130 pounds.

| Scoring | Day One Recap | History |

His underdeveloped body would ultimately harm him as a multi-sport athlete in basketball, football, ice hockey and cross country. 

Injuries became prevalent in Micholas’ life. A few head injuries mixed with normal wear and tear from steady sport. 

“I was a ball hawk and liked to lead with my head,” Micholas said about his football experiences. “I was a small guy and the wear on my body wasn’t great. I wish I grew up earlier.”

He didn’t grow or bulk up the rest of high school. Enter golf.

“I didn’t focus on golf until I was a sophomore in high school,” Micholas, 25, of Rehoboth Beach, Del., said. “I was playing ice hockey, basketball and ran cross country. I was more of an athlete that wasn’t growing. I grew up in college. That’s when I started to pound the golf ball. I was a late bloomer.”

Rounding into form on and off the course, Micholas carded a second-round 69 to grab a share of the lead after Round Two of the 72nd Delaware Amateur Tuesday at Wild Quail Golf & Country Club (par 72, 6,641 yards).

“I just try to make it to the last day,” Micholas, a University of Mississippi graduate, said. “So much can happen with 36 holes coming on the last day, which makes it interesting. It is pretty unconventional for an amateur tournament. I am trying to give myself a chance whether it is a comeback or extending a lead. Setup-wise, I think it is a great tournament.”

Jack Irons, a past BMW Philadelphia Amateur Finalist, carded a bogey-free 67 to match Micholas’ mark. Irons shot 68 in Round One.

A total of 43 players made the cut which fell at 8 over. The remaining competitors will play 36 holes on Wednesday with the first tee time starting at 8 a.m.

Micholas has been relying a lot on his long game thus far. He’s filled out his frame and causes harm to the golf ball with his powerful swing. He’s not afraid to hit driver even on some of the narrow holes at Wild Quail.

“I feel like I hit the ball well every time I play,” Micholas, of Kings Creek Country Club, said. “When I start to make putts, that is when I can go really low.”

Round One for Micholas was all about the putter in his 66. He rolled in three putts longer than 25 feet. Round Two was about the ball striking. 

He went out in 4 under, highlighted by three consecutive birdies on Nos. 4 (par 3, 166 yards), 5 (par 5, 600 yards) and 6 (par 4, 417 yards). He stuffed a 9-iron to two feet on No. 4, ripped a 3-wood from 282 yards to flag high on No. 5 and rolled in an eight-footer on No. 6.

Micholas, a horse handicapper by hobby, calls that his Trifecta.

A great bogey save on No. 10 (par 4, 350 yards) after hitting three shots from the beach, kept his momentum.

“I’m going to have to rely on my short game,” Micholas said. “I don’t see myself being out of position that bad where I don’t have a shot. I would like to have the back nine again. After making that huge save for bogey on No. 10, I wasted a lot of good opportunities coming in.”

Micholas has taken advantage of his draw. He had the first tee time in the first two rounds. The leaders tee off first in Round Two. He and Round One leader Logan Paczewski, of Huntsville Golf Club, zoomed around Wild Quail in just short of three hours. Paczewski sits in third at 7 under after a 72.

“I got unbelievably lucky getting the first tee time both days,” Micholas said. “I beat the wind yesterday and had a stress-free round today in a twosome. I will be able to get a lot of rest today. The Delaware Amateur is a special event. I am excited for tomorrow.”

Irons plodded around Wild Quail without a bogey Tuesday. He had three on Monday. 

“I felt yesterday and today were similar rounds,” Irons, who lives in Naples, Fla. and summers in Medford Lakes, N.J., said. “I cleaned up the mistakes from yesterday in today’s round. I was upset with the errors I made and that I was only 1 under on the par 5s. I wanted to play better on the par 5s. My goal was 4 under on them.”

He did just that. Four of his five birdies came on the four par 5s. His fifth birdie came as a result of a beautiful drive just over the green on No. 12 (par 4, 312 yards). A risk off the tee with water lurking right, Irons remained cool and striped it over the flagstick to the back of the green. A simple chip and putt followed.

Irons lost in the 2021 #BMWPhillyAm Final to Conor McGrath at Cedarbrook Country Club, 3&2.

“A lot of things have changed in my golf game and my life the last couple years. Some good and some bad,” Irons, 21, of Little Mill Country Club, said. “I am a much better player now than I was. I was battling some injuries, some swing changes and had a rough 2022 season. I am much stronger physically.”

If you look him up on Instagram, you will see @jackironsgolf has close to 16,000 followers. Posting swing videos and golf tips helps Irons remain close to the game he loves.

“Posting content was something I enjoyed a lot even if I don’t do it as much anymore,” Irons said. “I wanted to build my brand and express what I love to others. I got lucky and had a couple of posts that performed well. It is fun.”

A long day at Wild Quail awaits both Micholas and Irons. There are seven players within eight shots of the lead. Eight shots seems like a lot but not when there’s 36 holes remaining.

“I was telling my friends that four rounds in the 60s will give you a chance,” Irons said. “You don’t need to try and make it all up in one round. When scores are low, I feel like making bogeys hurt more than making birdies help you. Tomorrow is about being confident. I know I have what it takes to win. I just need to remain focused.”

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 340 Member Clubs and 100,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.