Area Golfers Miss Western Amateur Cut

None of the five North Shore golfers competing in the 156-player international field in the 113^th annual Western Amateur Golf Tournament at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park advanced to the match play rounds today.

Starting the day in 136^th place after shooting an opening round 79 Tuesday, Highland Park’s Kyle Kopsick came back with a four-under par 68 for a 36-hole total of 147 putting him in 82^nd place.

The top 44 golfers as well as those tied for that spot advanced to today’s 36-hold match play competition. Three players—Bennett Lavin of Deerfield, Andrew Price of Lake Forest and Blake Johnson of Winnetka—were on the cusp after the first day.

Lavin fell from 46^th to 108^th with a second round 76 after opening with a 73. Price, who was tied with Lavin, shot 77 Wednesday to finish medal play at 108^th. Johnson ended up113th after being in 29^th place by firing 79 after starting with a 72.

State high school champion Joe Willis of Lake Forest stayed at 127^th as he improved his second day score to 75 from 78.

The remaining field will be narrowed to 16 after today’s play. The round of 16 and the quarterfinals will be played Friday with the semifinals and finals Saturday.

The tournament was first played in 1899. The international field includes people from as far away as Spain, Australia and Malaysia.