How can scores go down when they go up? How can the leader board be the best in a decade when not everyone entered? How critical is round three for Richy Werenski and the rest of the field? It’s always nice to have questions, as long as we find the answers. Let’s seek them out.

1. How can scores go down when they go up?

This one is in the eye of the beholder. The low score from day one was 64; on day two, it was 62. On day one, the 64 was followed by a 65 and a few 66s. Day two brought a 63, a 64 and a bunch of 65s and 66s. Oddly, the scoring average from day one (69.83) rose .75 to day two (70.5). Despite the heroics of Richy Werenski (8 birdies for 62) and Justin Thomas (7 birdies for 63) and a rise in eagles (8 in round two versus 5 in round one), scores went up on Thursday.

How can the leader board be the best in a decade when not everyone entered?

Your leader plays for Georgia Tech. Immediately behind are the top two amateur players (respect to Bobby Wyatt, playing the Southern amateur) in the world, along with a member of the University of Florida golf team. Twenty players are within ten shots of the lead. Despite some players not being in attendance, this Porter Cup is shaping up to have as electrifying a finish as any from the past decade, unless…

How critical is round three for Richy Werenski and the rest of the field?

Richy Werenski shoots another 62. Or Justin Thomas or Patrick Rodgers shoot a 59. Werenski currently holds a four-shot lead over three pursuers. If he finds a way to extend that to eight shots or more, the tournament could be over. Anyone coming from out of the pack will need 61 or 60 to make up serious ground. It can be done at Niagara Falls Country Club. A fellow who can do it is Curtis Thompson, a birdie and eagle machine, but he’ll need two rounds in the low 60s to get in the mix.

The Hot Start

The closest thing we have to a hot start is Rob Couture in round two. After an opening bogey, he reeled off birdies on the next three holes, but cooled down. The potential is there to be five-under after four holes, since three is a reachable par five.

Another Front-Side Par Five?

Who knows if it’s feasible, but it sure would be fun to convert the eighth hole into a three-shotter (or for these guys, another chance at eagle!)