Rare Bogey Can’T Keep Geroux From Lilac Lead

Scott Geroux made his first bogey of the week at The Fairways at West Terrace Golf Course on Friday morning - a messy little four on the normally benign par-3 17th. “It’s kind of upsetting to bogey the easiest hole on the course,” Geroux admitted.

In the end it mattered little as the 37-year-old minitour veteran from Olympia went on to par the difficult par-4 18th and post a second-consecutive 7-under-par 65 that gave him a comfortable four-stroke lead after two rounds of the $48,000 Guy Hyatt’s Lilac Invitational golf tournament.

Geroux’s low number, which included an eagle-2 on the par-4 10th, was the best turned in on The Fairways’ immaculately conditioned, 6,459-yard layout. It left him at 14-under 130 two rounds into the 72-hole event and in excellent position to claim a second Lilac title. “There’s still a lot of golf to go and anything can happen,” said Geroux, the 1993 champion, who has spent the past several years playing North American minitour events, including the Cascade Tour in Western Washington.

“I didn’t putt nearly as well today as I did (Thursday) but I’m happy. I’m in good position.”

Most of those in pursuit would agree, especially Tony Robydek, a Cascade Tour rival from Tacoma, who shot a second-round 66 and kept the event from turning into a runaway - for the time being, at least. “Obviously, 65 was doable out there today,” Robydek said of Geroux’s nearly flawless round. “But back-to-back 65s with just one bogey? That’s phenomenal.”

Still, Robydek, who is in sole possession of second place at 134, said he was not surprised. Not after watching Geroux dominate the Cascade Tour this spring.

“He’s been playing well all year,” said Robydek, who is playing in the Lilac for the first time since 1997, when he shot 17-under par and finished third. “I didn’t expect anything less from him.

“And I don’t see him backing up. So I guess one of us is going to have to go catch him - probably me, Kevin PomArleau, Scottie Johnson or Ryan Kelly. But it’s going to take a real low number.”

PomArleau, Johnson and Kelly each finished Friday’s second round at 135, a shot behind Robydek and five back of Geroux. Todd Ralston was at that same number, while 1997 champion Storm Gleim was tied with Travis Long at 136 after shooting a second-round 67.

First-round co-leader Dan Potter, an amateur and recent Gonzaga Prep graduate who will play for the University of Washington, stumbled in with a 1-over 73 and was tied with several others at 138, eight strokes off the lead.

Geroux, who started at 8:06 in the morning and played several holes in fog and sub-50 temperatures, heated up his second round with birdies at Nos. 2, 5 and 8 and turned at 3-under 33. He then eagled the 10th by holing a sand wedge approach from 102 yards and reeled off consecutive birdies at 12, 13 and 14.

Geroux also birdied the 16th before hitting a minor snag at No. 17, where he misclubbed off the tee, chipped poorly and two-putted for his bogey.

“The wind was blowing in my face, and I couldn’t decide on a club,” he said of his hiccup on the 17th, which was playing only about 125 yards. “I was thinking about maybe a baby 9-iron, but hit a hard wedge instead and pulled it left of the pin.”

The ball landed on the putting surface, but spun back off and came to rest against the second cut of rough.

“I just made a bad chip and didn’t get it up and down,” Geroux said. “No excuses.”

Robydek’s round was much more eventful. The pro from Spanaway Lakes Golf Course turned in 4-under 32 but gave a stroke back on the 10th hole after three-putting “straight uphill” from just 15 feet away. He then made a disappointing par on the shortish par-5 12th, despite hitting a pitching wedge to the green on his second shot, and bogeyed No. 15 to slip back to 3-over on the day.

But the putter that had betrayed him most of the round, turned friendly, and Robydek was able to close with three straight birdies.

“I’ve matched Scotty in birdies,” said Robydek, who has 15 in two rounds, “but I can’t keep the bogies away. I’ve been struggling with the putter a little bit the past couple of weeks and, obviously, it’s going to need to be there for the weekend.

“I don’t think I can reel in Scotty, the way he’s playing, without a hot putter.”

Tee times for today’s third round will start at 6:14 a.m. The final threesome of Geroux, Robydek and Kelly will tee off at 2:06 p.m.