EAST PROVIDENCE — Caleb Surratt shot one of the lowest scores during Round 2 of the 2023 Northeast Amateur Invitational Thursday, June 22, at Wannamoisett Country Club in the Rumford section of the city to take the solo lead at the mid-way mark of the 61st playing of the prestigious event.

The reigning Elite Amateur Series Cup winner, North Carolina resident who just completed his freshman year at the University of Tennessee, Surratt was one of a handful of players who carded the day's best round, 3-under. He did so, for his first nine at least, in the morning wave while skies were still mostly cloudy.

"I play well here. I played well last year. I just feel real comfortable plotting my way around this course," Surratt said after he recorded four birdies and a bogey Thursday to finish up one at 7-under.

He followed his miscue of the tournament at the par 4 sixth by driving the green on the short par 4, 347 yard seventh. Surratt said he "flew" drive to around 330 yards, but missed the eagle putt. He settled for the birdie on what was his 16th hole of the day, starting his round on the back side.

Surratt, as well, made the most of a difficult situation at the par 5, 17th. His drive was fine, but his second shot, a 5-iron, plugged in the green-side bunker. He got relief, chipped up and made a birdie putt.

Another the 3-under rounds was recorded by Luke Clanton of Hialeah, Fla., and Florida State University. Clanton, who like Surratt, just finished his first year as a Seminole sits one shot back 6-under through 36 holes. Clanton moved up six spots on the scoreboard following his superb second round.

That 3-under group also happened to include two-time defending champion Dylan Menante, who rebounded from his 2-over 71 in Round 1 to shoot a 66 as well. The University of North Carolina Tar Heel moved way up the leaderboard from a share of 53rd to just outside the Top 10 at T11 with a host of others.

Noted mid-am and multi-time Walker Cup team member Stewart Hagestad, of New York, N.Y., followed up a 1-under 68 on Day 1 with an even par 69 to also share 11th as is one of the youngest players in the field, Matt Moloney, of Daniel Island, S.C., a high school senior and University of Georgia commit.

The first-round Bartley Forrester, the Georgia Tech senior, began his second round in good form, teeing off on No. 10 and going out in 2-under to up his score after 27 holes to 9-under. The front nine, his back, wasn't so kind, though.

Forrester, who carded a Round 1 62, came home at 6-over, 40 to finish with a 73 and a two-day total of 3-over. He made four bogeys on his way in, including a double at the par 4, 437 sixth.

Seven players will begin the third round in a share of third at 3-under. Only 18 players reached the mid-way mark under par. A cut to the low 60-scorers and ties will be made after Round 3 on Friday.

Though overcast for much of the morning, players found a more fiery Wannamoisett during Round 2, especially a very warm sun and a steady breeze came over the course right around noontime. The greens were still running quick and weren't holding as well as they had the first round and earlier in the day Thursday.

"I was fortunate to start to roll it a little better today, which is what you have to do on this golf course," Surratt added. "There were some tough pins and it started to get a little windy in the middle of the round, so that made it a bit harder."