U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier at Decotah Ridge Halted Due to Darkness

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  MORTON, Minn. – Following a stoppage due to lightning earlier in the day, play at the 2016 U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying at Decotah Ridge Golf Club has been suspended Monday due to darkness.

Players at the 36-hole event were called off the course at 9:30 a.m. as the start of the second round was delayed more than two hours Monday.

With six players yet to complete 36 holes, recent University of Tennessee graduate Chad Merzbacher currently leads the field as he carded back-to-back rounds of 1-under par 71 Monday.

Merzbacher rolled in two birdies with one bogey during his opening round Monday before carding one birdie and one bogey on his front nine during the second round to remain at 1-under for the tournament.

He would card a birdie on his 11th hole to move to 2-under, but gave back a stroke with a bogey on his 17th hole. Merzbacher would answer by making birdie on his final hole to sit on top of the leaderboard at 2-under par 142.

Matt Bennett, Marshall, Minn., and Graysen Huff, Eagle, Idaho, currently sit tied for second at 3-over par 147, while Troy Johnson is currently 1-over par with three holes left to play.

Will Holmgren, Plymouth, Minn., recorded an ace at the 210-yard 16th hole with a 6-iron.

Play will resume at 7 a.m. Tuesday as three qualifying spots are available for this year’s championship, which will be played August 15-21 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.