Matt Bortis Fires Record Round at Missouri Amateur

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.(UA Sports Information) - Arkansas sophomore golfer Matt Bortis fired an eight-under-par 62 in the second round of the 98th Missouri Amateur Championships at the par-70 Millwood Golf and Racquet Club on Wednesday to lead the event heading into match play on Thursday. Bortis 62 tied the course record set by the late Payne Stewart. The former U.S. Open Champion set the record with a nine-under round of 62 when Millwood was set up as a par-71 layout. Bortis, a native of Springfield, Mo. and a sophomore this past season for the Razorbacks, shot a one-under-par 69 on the opening 18 holes Tuesday and leads the amateur with a nine-under-par 131 heading into Thursdays match play action. "Ive been making some swing changes and it is finally starting to pay off," Bortis said following Wednesdays round. "I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdies today by getting inside 10 to 15 feet with my irons and then my putter was working well. It was just one of those days where everything seemed to go my way." The field of 156 competitors at the Missouri Amateur Championships opened with 36 holes of stroke play to determine the 64 players that advance on to match-play competition. The first round of match play begins on Thursday with 18 holes. The winners advance on to Fridays second and third rounds of match play. Quarterfinal and semifinals rounds will be played on Saturday with the finals slated for 36 holes on Sunday.