July 26, 2006

CONCORD TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Senior Mike Rutgers carded a 68 in the second round of the 83rd Ohio Open Championship on Tuesday (July 25) to move into a tie for 17th, six shots out of the lead with a two-day total of 139. The field was trimmed to low 50 and ties for Wednesday's final round, which will be held at Little Mountain Country Club in Concord Township.

Richard Blakeman and Tony Mollica are tied for the lead at 133 heading into the final round. Nick Lambos is the current low amateur at 135.

The field of 225 golfers was split between Acacia Country Club in Lyndhurst and Little Mountain for the first 36 holes. Sophomore Jake Scott joined Rutgers at Little Mountain on Tuesday, shooting a 79 to finish at 148, four shots off the cut line.

Rutgers is in the midst of the best summer of his career, having previously won the Northeast Ohio Amateur Invitational title in June.