View 18 photos

OAKLAND — Luke Ruffing knows he can putt with anybody. Ron Kelton is just as confident in his ability on the greens.

It showed Wednesday morning at Waterville Country Club. And it’s why both golfers are staring down their first Maine Amateur title.

Ruffing shot 3-under 67 in the second round, giving him sole possession of first place at 5 under going into the final round of the tournament. He’s one shot ahead of Ron Kelton, whose second straight 2-under 68 has him in striking distance after he finished in third place last year and second in 2023.

“The putter was rolling,” said Ruffing, who notched six birdies on his home course. “It’s whoever gets hot and gets lucky, and I’ve had a bunch of putts go in. Hopefully I can do that again tomorrow.”

Looming three shots back in third place is defending champion Eli Spaulding, who recovered from a two-stroke penalty for hitting the wrong ball to card a 1-under 69 on the strength of two eagles on his second nine.

“I’d say ‘relieved’ is a good word (for how I feel),” Spaulding said. “I feel pretty good about how I kept myself in it today, and I should have a shot at it tomorrow.”

Joe Walp (1 under) was in fourth place, and Kevin Byrne and Jason Gall (even par) were tied for fifth. Gall shot 5-under 65, the best round of the day.

Waterville’s tricky greens kept most players in check, as approach shots spun off the surface and short putts proved devious, but Ruffing was in a rhythm. Having started his round on the 10th hole, he made a 30-footer for birdie on the 18th hole with a putt that rolled up and back down a hill, providing his round’s greatest highlight.

“I think I’m the best putter in Maine, probably New England,” Ruffing said. “Just being able to be a member at this course and learn the greens has been paying off a whole bunch.”

Ruffing finished 12 shots back in 2015, the last time the championship was played at Waterville. The former Maranacook standout joined Waterville Country Club this year so he’d be more prepared for this week, and in better position to claim the U.S. Amateur berth that automatically goes to the Maine Amateur champion.

“Ten years ago, this place just beat me up,” he said. “It attacks every single weakness I have. Irons, playing out of rough, chipping, not being able to hit driver on most holes. This is the worst fit for me, but I’ve had to learn it.”

It was a similar story for Purpoodock Club’s Kelton, who finished his round with 26 putts after needing only 25 the day before. He started with a flourish: facing bogey on his opening hole, he instead rolled in a 40-footer for par.

Kelton’s putter stayed hot. He rolled in a birdie putt from off the green on No. 9, an 18-footer for par on 16, and a 14-footer for birdie on 17, punctuating the latter two with fist pumps.

“(The greens) will identify the better players from not, which it’s supposed to,” Kelton said. “Fortunately, I work a lot on putting, it’s a big part of my game. I have to, because I’m not as long as these guys, and I love it because they’re just so pure. They’re true.”

Kelton said he’s focused “70%” on speed over line on the green.

“If I get the right speed, it should go in if it’s somewhat close to the line,” he said. “A lot of people focus way too much on the line, and they’ll putt through it, they’ll putt short.”

Spaulding’s round, which started on the 10th, nearly deteriorated when he mistakenly hit Drew Glasheen’s ball on the 15th hole, resulting in a two-stroke penalty on the way to a 3-over first nine that put him seven shots behind Ruffing.

“I definitely was a little flustered,” Spaulding said.

He recovered after the turn, eagling the par-5 third and ninth holes with pristine approach shots. The first was a 6-iron from 199 yards and the second was a 4-iron from 221 yards that clipped a tree leaf on the way up.

Spaulding called those two his best shots of the day, and they led to 6-foot putts that he sank to return to contention.

“It just feels great to be able to turn it around,” Spaulding said. “Days like today can easily just go the wrong direction once they start going downhill. To be able to right the ship and have a chance for tomorrow feels amazing.”

Gall’s 65 was 10 shots better than Tuesday’s, and was — keeping in line with the day’s theme — the result of better putting on the greens.

“I had 26 putts, and that was a huge improvement over (Tuesday),” he said.

Gall made a 20-foot downhill putt on the first hole, then a tough up-and-down for par on the fifth hole before birdies on the sixth, seventh and ninth. Lag putting made a difference for the 2010 runner-up.

“I gave myself a little more room on the breaking putts,” he said. “These greens are so fast and so sloping. If you get it below the hole, it starts running away from the hole. I think that’s where most guys are getting in trouble.”