Danny Paniccia soars to Fresno City Amateur lead after two rounds

Four-time champion Danny Paniccia birdied five of his final eight holes to jump atop the leaderboard in Sunday’s second round of the Fresno City Amateur.

The 38-year-old golfer jumped 13 spots and shaved seven strokes off his game to finish in front at 4-under 140 heading into Monday’s final round at Riverside Golf Course.

Paniccia holds a one-stroke lead on defending champ Jason Anthony and Hanford High sophomore Lane Pulliam, who won the Len Ross Junior Amateur last month.

Pulliam birdied two of his last three holes to remain in the top five for the second straight day. Should Paniccia hold on to the lead after Monday, he would become the tournament’s first five-time winner in more than 60 years. Charlie Seaver won his fifth and final Fresno City Amateur title in 1954.

Right behind the trio is San Jose State sophomore golfer Matthew Ashley and Fresno State freshman Justin Avery at 2 under.

Michael Tolladay, a former Bullard High star who now golfs for University of the Pacific, was the only player to match Paniccia’s round of 7-under 65. Tolladay sits in seventh place at 1-under 141. Day 1 leaders Matt Fagundes and Sonny Freitas are one stroke behind.

The lowest 40 scores and ties from Sunday advanced to Monday’s final round. Action starts at 7:20 a.m., with the leaders teeing off last at 9:30 a.m.

This story was originally published May 24, 2015 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Danny Paniccia soars to Fresno City Amateur lead after two rounds."