Rockford Men's and Women's City golf tournaments tighten up before final round

It’s a race again.

Defending champion Robert Dofflemyer struggled on his last four holes Saturday at Sandy Hollow and saw his five-stroke opening-round lead cut to one stroke on the second day of the Greater Rockford Men’s Golf Classic.

Three golfers will be within two strokes of the lead and play together in Sunday’s final round at Aldeen. The Women’s City is also geared up for a fun final round. Eva Greenberg, who graduated from Boylan this spring, shot 73 to take a two-stroke lead over Annie Wu and four over Wu’s twin, Tammy Wu. Her own sister, Ella Greenberg, dropped from first to fourth, five strokes back.

More: Wife helps Robert Dofflemyer III learn to conquer Ingersoll in Men's City golf tourney

Cody Rhymer, seeking his first Men’s City title after taking second last year, shot 4-under-par 67, the best round of the day by three strokes, to move into second. TJ Baker and Matt Smith both shot 1-under 70.

Dofflemyer leads with rounds of 63 at Ingersoll and 73 at Sandy Hollow for a 146. Rhymer shot 70-67—137 and Baker, a two-time champ, shot 68-70—138.

“I got myself back in the right position,” said Baker, the Ohio Valley Conference golfer of the year this spring at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville who is making this his final amateur tournament before turning pro. “I am still chasing a couple of strokes, but it’s definitely more do-able. I just have to go out tomorrow and have a good one.

“I hope my whole game comes together. At Ingersoll I didn’t hit it very good, but I was putting OK. Today was almost the exact opposite. I was hitting the ball good, but didn’t make many of the putts I hoped to make. Hopefully, tomorrow I can combine the two.”

Matt Smith (72-70) and Danny Gorman (71-71) are tied for fourth at 142, four strokes behind Baker in third. Rhymer’s twin, Kyle Rhymer, is another shot back at 71-72—143.

The Wu twins, born in Taiwan, could become the first players from outside the area to win the 99-year-old Women’s City, which opened its doors to any players a few years ago to boost entrants. Annie Wu plays for Elon University. Tammy Wu plays in the Big Ten for Maryland.

This is one of the deepest women’s field in years, with seven players within nine strokes of first. Brianna Chamoun is in fifth at 151, Winnebago grad Kyra Simon is sixth at 152 and two-time champion Kayla Sayyalinh, who won by 13 strokes last year, is nine back at 153.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford Men's and Women's City golf tournaments tighten up before final round