EAST PROVIDENCE _ Justin Suh spent part of his day at Wannamoisett Country Club on Thursday convincing himself to remain patient and not get frustrated. He was playing well but not converting one birdie chance after another as he competed in the second round of the 57th Northeast Amateur Invitational.

           “It’s something I’ve dealt with in the past and learned to accept,” said the first-team All-American from Southern Cal. “You’re not going to make every putt. If you continue to roll good putts and stick to your routine they will fall eventually.”

         That’s exactly what they did for Suh before the day was over.

          After bogeying the ninth hole - his only bogey of the tournament - he was even-par for the day and in danger of losing the lead he had given himself when he fired an opening round 63. But his patience paid off. He had four birds on the way to a 31 on the back nine for 65 on the day and a 10-under 128 total, equaling the tournament record at the halfway point.

          Scoring on the second straight beautiful day, with greens running at 14 on the Stimpmeter, was so good that Suh only leads by two. Vanderbilt’s Will Gordon fired a 64 for 130. LSU star Jacob Bergeron is third at 131 after a 66. Twenty-three of the 92 contestants are under par after 36 holes.

           Suh, who is from San Jose, Cal., maintained his lead by playing what he called simple golf.  He gave himself opportunities all day.

        “My chances for birdies were all burning the edges,” he said. “Luckily, I had a good finish.” His 10-under-par total equals the tournament record set by Theo Humphrey just last year.

       The dazzling scoring day included a first in the event’s 57-year history: Two players posting a 29 for nine holes.

           There have been a number of 29s in previous years, but never more than one in any year. Andy Ogletree and Josh Whalen not only became the first to do it on the same day. Amazingly, they played in the same twosome.

          “I felt pretty bad on the front,” Ogletree said after watching Whalen birdie 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 for a 29 on the par-34 front side. Ogletree, a Georgia Tech star, had a 36 on that side.

            “I felt pretty bad on the back,” offered Whalen, a Kent University grad from Ontario, Canada.  Whalen had a 39 on the back for a 68 on the day. Ogletree, meanwhile, had birds at 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17 for his 29 on the par-35 back. That gave Ogletree a 65 on the day, one of seven players to post that number or lower.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:

          In the last two rounds Jacob Bergeron played before coming to Wannamoisett, he was 16-over-par. In the last two days the LSU sophomore has played at Wannamoisett, he is 7-under, a difference of a whopping 23 strokes in relation to par.

         It is not because his game has changed that much. It is because the venues are so different.

        Bergeron played last week in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Obviously, Bergeron much prefers seeing scores of 65-66 after his name than the 81-75 he posted at Shinnecock, but he has absolutely no regrets about his Open experience. Actually, he loved it.

        “To come and play Wannamoisett is a nice change of pace. I learned a lot last week. It’s something that I’m carrying over into this week,” Bergeron said. “You come play a golf course like this and it seems a little easy even though it’s not. You think you’re supposed to shoot nothing around it. When in reality 4-under is darn good score.”

          The pre-tournament dinner Northeast officials hold each year featured a speech by Brett Quigley. Quigley, who spent 15 years on the PGA Tour before being slowed by injuries, was asked to take part because it is the 30th anniversary of his Northeast victory.

       That is the last time any local player has won the tournament. Only one other Rhode Islander, the late Ronnie Quinn, has won the event. Quinn won in both 1964 and ’65. No area player has finished in the top 10 since Brad Valois tied for eighth in 2006.

          Davis Chatfield has put himself in position to change that. The Wannamoisett freshman, who just finished a strong freshman year at Notre Dame, put himself in great position with a 4-under 65 to stand at 135 at the halfway point, in a tie for sixth.

        It was the lowest score Chatfield has ever had on his home course, although he added “I usually only play nine or if I play more don’t keep score.”

            “On the range warming up I felt good about my game,” he said. The feeling was real he went out and birdied four of the first five holes from 2, 1, 3 and 8 feet.

           Matt Parziale, the Brockton, Mass., firefighter who also is receiving strong support after tying for low amateur in the U.S. Open, tied for low round of the day with a 65 that included an eagle on 17, the only par-5 on the course.  Luis Gagne, the LSU star who tied Parziale for low am in the Open shot a 64 and is in contention at 134, three ahead of Parziale.