The Mt. Prospect Golf Club has reopened from renovation, call for your tee time today at (847)-259-4200. The LPGA International Crown is the next big event at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, coming July 2016 see www.ULcrown.com for details. THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Live coverage from The Western Am. All week.      _____________________________________________________________________

            The first 36 holes are in the books, and the field has gone from 156 players to 45, after today it will be just 16. Who will survive, well some of those questions have been answered already.

Dawson Armstrong at 11 under after posting 67-66 in his first two rounds is the leader. But he could be gone later today, if he does not survived 36 more holes of stroke play.

Armstrong 19, from Brentwood, Tennessee is a Sophomore at Lipscomb University, and was the winner of the 2015 Dogwood Invitational, while taking 2nd place at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship. In 2014 Armstrong was 4th at the Western Junior. He was the 2015 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year.

But in spite of leading, Armstrong admits that there is not much about Rich Harvest Farms that suits his game. What RHF does do for him is, “the course gets my mind off of playing golf and gets me thinking about how beautiful the place is. It’s awesome. At the beginning of the week I just told myself to have fun first. I’m not going to beat myself up if I make a bogey or two.”

Armstrong admits he is going through a swing change or two,but has been putting well and hopes that keep him going the in tournament. Along with what he feels is a strong mental game.

One of the afternoon groups that a big following was that of defending champion Beau Hossler from the University of Texas golf team, Nick Hardy of Northbrook who made the final four last year and 2013 Western Amateur Champion Jordan Niebrugge who was the Low-Amateur at the recent British Open. While Niebrugge will continue his quest for a second Western Amateur title, Hardy and Hossler are headed home after missing the cut. Hardy’s Illinois teammate Charlie Danielson birdied 7 of his first 10 holes in the afternoon and shot a 65, that one day earlier would have been the course record.

Click here to hear interviews with in order, Charlie Danielson, Beau Hossler, Nick Hardy, and Jordan Niebrugge.

Taylor Funk and Danielson are two shots back of Armstrong, while Niebrigge is four back in 4th place. Thursday’s 36 hole shootout, should be quite a day.

Except for early trunk slammers that included. Illinois State Amateur Champion Tee-K Kelly and Fighting Illini team member Dylan Meyer who each missed by 1 shot. Hossler, Hardy, first round co-leader Jose Mendez, Illinois Open Champion David Cooke who shot 66 to miss by 2 shots, after an opening round of 80. USC’s Sean Crocker who had 69 in round two but came up short. 2014 US Amateur Champion Gunn Yang, Walker Cup player Todd White, and Doug Ghim semi-finalist and medalist in 2014. The only remaining Illinois player is Daniel Stringfellow of Roselle who shot 71-72 to make the cut by 2 shots.

More coverage of the Western Amateur coming up later today, so stay clicked in. Plus later today our interview with Rich Harvest Farms Owner Jerry Rich.