75th Delaware Amateur: Day Two

Barbin holds 36-hole lead

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Evan Barbin’s 2024 Delaware Amateur campaign after 36 holes was a two-shot deficit to Amory Davis of Bidermann Golf Course at White Clay Creek Country Club.

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Two years later, the margin is one, but in his favor.

Barbin, taking advantage of favorable morning wave conditions on Day Two, fired his second consecutive 69 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club (par 72, 6,672 yards). He leads the 75th Delaware Amateur at the halfway point.

Round One leader Eli Shah of Penn Oaks Golf Club fired an even-par 72 and sits at 5 under. Thomas Young of Saucon Valley Country Club and Lorenzo Sanz of Briarwood Golf Club matched the RBCC course record with 64s, equaling Ben Crenshaw, Jay Whitby and Ed Brown’s mark.

The 36-hole cut fell at 7-over.

“I wanted to create a little bit of distance on the leaderboard,” Barbin, 22, of Elkton, Md., said. “I knew that the conditions wouldn’t be as tough and with how my ball striking was, I was confident in my ability to separate. I wasn’t in the best position off the tee but I scrambled well. I was trying to hit a lot of lower trajectory drivers yesterday and with little wind, I wasn’t executing as well.

“I felt like I putted a lot better than yesterday. I didn’t have any three putts and I made a lot of good par saves. My ball striking wasn’t what it was on Monday but the conditions were much more benign this morning so there wasn’t as much pressure on that part of your game.”

Barbin went out in 3 under to jolt to the top. Highlighted by a chip-in birdie on the opener (par 4, 425 yards). 

He’d shoot even par on the back nine to cap his 69. Barbin said there were two sides of his second round coin. The one where he made more birdies and the one where he scrambled well. It landed on good scrambling.

“Having an early tee time today was huge,” Barbin, of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club, said. “I am going to practice a little bit and unwind. I want to try to stay mentally focused and control what I can control. It’s hitting the right shots at the right times and taking advantage of good breaks. I want to keep giving myself good mental confidence.”

Barbin’s Liberty University collegiate career went by in a flash. The next step he says is following the Barbin family experience. Turning professional and becoming a PGA of America member.

“Liberty was a great experience,” Barbin said. “I learned a lot and developed a lot of key relationships and connections. We played against some amazing competition and in some elite tournaments. I wish I could have played better. I was a pretty mediocre college player. College golf is a lot. It definitely prepares you for professional golf, traveling and time management.”

Rehoboth Beach and Barbin are becoming quite familiar with each other. Barbin said the more time passes the more comfortable he feels on the golf course.

“Most of the mistakes I’ve made the first two rounds were a result of not getting the ball to the hole on my approaches,” Barbin said. “To shoot under par here, you can’t be lag putting the entire round.”

The winner of the Delaware Amateur earns a spot in the U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club. It’s the last goal remaining on Barbin’s amateur golf bucket list.

“It’s a little different position to be in,” Barbin said. “I was two shots back of Amory Davis in 2024. If I can keep putting together these solid rounds, that should do the trick. I am getting to know the golf course really well. If I am not in the best position, I trust my wedges will bail me out. There’s not a lot of pressure for me. It is a lot more excitement to get it going tomorrow and see what happens.”

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 345 Member Clubs and 140,000 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.