Two amateurs, Evan Beck, 19, of Virginia Beach and Vincent Nadeau, 22, of Richmond, each shot 7-under 65 to share the lead entering Friday’s second round. On a benign day when conditions were ideal for scoring, there were 16 rounds in the 60s.

Professional and mini-tour player Cameron Yancey of Blackstone opened with 6-under 66. Four other competitors posted 5-under 67: professional Stephen Gangluff (Charlottesville) central Virginia PGA professional Rick Schuller (Chester), the 1998 SunTrust State Open of Virginia champion, as well as collegians Marshall Bailey (Fincastle), 21, a rising senior at Virginia Tech and Austin Gray (Midlothian), 20, a sophomore at Longwood University.      

Altogether, there were 39 rounds under par in the first round and 50 rounds of par or better. Each of the scores of 67 or better came from players who were a part of the morning starting times. There were four 68s, with three of those scores shot by competitors in the afternoon contingent; ’08 SunTrust State Open of Virginia champion Roger Newsom (Virginia Beach) also shot four under in the morning.

A rising sophomore at Wake Forest University, Beck (pictured right) had a strong ball-striking day, missing only one green and playing bogey-free with seven birdies. He drained a 35-footer at the par-4 first hole, completed his outward half by making consecutive birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 and had four birdies on the inward half, all inside 10 feet.

Beck admits that his first year of college signaled a time of adjustment, but gained confidence as the 2009-10 season progressed. He delivered four rounds in the 60s to finish second at last week’s Eastern Amateur and his 65 on Thursday marked his best tournament round since entering college.     

“It was a difficult adjustment for me, especially the first semester with school work and balancing golf. It was tough,” allowed Beck, a finalist at the 2008 U.S. Junior Amateur. “I kind of got the hang of it and started playing better toward the end of the year. It’s been fun, but challenging. I wouldn’t trade it.

“I feel like I’ve been playing this well along. I’m hitting more fairways and feel more comfortable playing.”

Like his co-leader, Nadeau went without a bogey and registered seven birdies. He was part of a morning wave that saw 22 competitors post red numbers.

“There was no wind, the greens were soft and the course was in great shape,” said Nadeau, a finance major who will complete his degree requirements at Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall. “I feel like it could’ve been three shots lower, but I’m not going to complain. I’m in a good spot.”

A former PGA Tour player, Yancey battled the yips in recent years, but a switch to a long putter has rejuvainted his game and likely saved his competitive playing career. Yancey finished third at the SunTrust State Open two years ago and tied for 12th place in ’09. Battles with the putter have held him back on the slippery and subtly breaking putting surfaces at Independence. He had five birdies and an eagle to offset a bogey on the first day; more importantly, he made the nerve-shredding 4- and 5-footers that affected his results in previous years.

“In the past, this would’ve been a one, two, or three under round,” said Yancey, 31. He and wife, Keri, welcomed their first child, a daughter, Madison, two months ago. “The putter has really rejuvenated me and been spot-on. I feel confident and am making the putts I should now.”

Schuller likely knows the feeling. The PGA professional at Swader’s Sports Park in Colonial Heights, he recovered from an opening double-bogey, wielding a hot putter to record nine birdies and making a combined 165 feet worth of putts. He two-putted for birdie from 35 feet a pair of times. His putter, branded by the manufacturer as a ‘ghost putter,’ was the difference-maker in Schuller’s round.

“The ghost putter was on fire today,” he smiled. “I haven’t had a putting round like that in a long time.”

The 2009 PGA professional of the year, at 47, Schuller admits he’d like to add another State Open triumph to his résumé and noted the importance of getting off to a good start to ultimately set up a title shot.

“It is imperative to shoot a good first round score if you want to continue on and have a chance to win, because the quality of the field is such that you can’t spot anybody strokes early” Schuller said. “I think experience over the years has proven to me over to be patient. It’s not won in the first round. It’s not won in the second or third round. You have to wait until the back nine on Sunday. I just hope to be in position to have that chance. There’s still a lot of golf left with a lot of great players out there.”

Gangluff, 34, played the PGA Tour in 2002 competed on the developmental circuits on and off in recent years, and is now the assistant professional at Charlottesville’s Farmington Country Club. The 34-year-old, making his first competitive start since February, made the most of the chance, shooting four under on his outward half (Nos. 10-18) before adding two more birdies on his second nine.     

“It’s nice to be playing again,” Gangluff said.

Bailey admits he’s using the summer to relax and hadn’t played or practiced much, but was low-Hokie of the five Virginia Tech players in the field (the program’s head coach, Jay Hardwick, is also competing). Gray had an eagle and five birdies to offset two bogeys and summed up the sea of red on the scoreboard.

“It’s pretty hot – and generous out there,” he said.

Following Friday’s second round, the field will be cut to the low 70 competitors and ties for the final two rounds, set for Saturday and Sunday, July 17-18.

MIDLOTHIAN –– Results following the first round of the 2010 SunTrust State Open of Virginia at Independence Golf Club (7,029 yards, par 36-36—72) on Thursday, July 15.

(a – denotes amateur)

a – Evan Beck (Virginia Beach), 33-32—65

a – Vincent Nadeau (Richmond), 32-33—65

Cameron Yancey (Blackstone), 33-33—66

a – Marshall Bailey (Fincastle), 33-34—67

a – Austin Gray (Midlothian), 35-32—67

Rick Schuller, PGA (Chester), 34-33—67

Stephen Gangluff (Charlottesville), 35-32—67

a – Roger Newsom (Virginia Beach), 33-35—68

a – Buck Brittain (Tazewell), 36-32—68

a – Aaron Eckstein (Salem), 34-34—68

a – Nick Austin (Midlothian), 34-34—68

a – Keith Decker (Martinsville), 35-34—69

a – Scott Marino (Fairfax), 33-36—69

a – Glenn Mullian (Richmond), 35-34—69

Cary Sciorra, PGA (Gainesville), 35-34—69

Jay Woodson (Richmond), 36-33—69

a – Scott Shingler (Haymarket), 34-36—70

a – Adam Webb (Ridgeway), 36-34—70

a – Seth Norman (Norfolk), 36-34—70

a – Michael Taylor (Ashland), 33-37—70

Steve Pierce (Bristow), 36-34—70

Hampton Ballard (Pearisburg), 37-33—70

a – Ben Keefer (Glen Allen), 37-34—71

a – Michael Wade (Floyd), 37-34—71

a – Weston Eklund (Charlottesville), 37-34—71

a – Lee Fisher (Altavista), 38-33—71

a – Jim McGuire (Haymarket), 34-37—71

a – Jay Zapko (Glen Allen), 37-34—71

a – Paul Woodson (Powhatan), 36-35—71

a – Bryce Chalkley (Richmond), 37-34—71

Jon Corliss, PGA (Virginia Beach), 35-36—71

Tim Crumrine (Richmond), 37-34—71

Jimmy Flippen Jr. (Danville), 33-38—71

Faber Jamerson, PGA (Appomattox), 36-35—71

Chip Sullivan, PGA (Troutville), 35-36—71

Tim White, PGA (Midlothian), 36-35—71

Kenneth Roseberry (Leesburg), 36-35—71

Tony Bostic (Vienna), 36-35—71

Richard Hanna (Stanardsville), 37-34—71

a – Tim Kelley (Ashland), 37-35—72

a – Jeff Long (Centreville), 34-38—72

a – Mikey Moyers (Stanardsville), 38-34—72

a – Zack Henry (Front Royal), 39-33—72

a – Chris Tuttle (Virginia Beach), 34-38—72

a – Josh Apple (Lansdowne), 35-37—72

a – Allen Barber (Yorktown), 37-35—72

Mike Gooden, PGA (Harrisonburg), 35-37—72

Bryan Jackson, PGA (Palmyra), 38-34—72

Mike Moyers, PGA (Stanardsville), 37-35—72

a – Matthew Neely (Monterey), 36-36—72

a – Brian Post (Stephens City), 40-33—73

a – Jeffrey Topp (Fairfax), 38-35—73

a – Andy Heye (Centreville), 37-36—73

a – Starell Cox (Chesterfield), 38-35—73

a – Andrew Tilley (Ringgold), 34-39—73

a – Kyle Bailey (Fincastle), 35-38—73

a – Tony Deluca (Purcellville), 38-35—73

a – Chris Olson (Midlothian), 36-37—73

a – Adam Frank (Midlothian), 37-36—73

Bud Lintelman, PGA (Purcellville), 36-37—73

Brendan McGrath, PGA (Centreville), 35-38—73

John Miller, PGA (Leesburg), 37-36—73

John O'Leary, PGA (Chantilly), 38-35—73

Dean Sumner, PGA (Callao), 34-39—73

Jeffrey Thomas, PGA (Lynchburg), 37-36—73

Michael Ferguson, PGA (Glen Allen), 37-36—73

Jerel Whiting (Martinsville), 36-37—73

a – Dan Lesando (Ashburn), 38-36—74

a – Ryan Patrick (Sterling), 37-37—74

a – Greg Brouse (Leesburg), 36-38—74

a – Jeremy Wells (Hopewell), 37-37—74

a – Michael Shrader (Midlothian), 40-34—74

a – Francesco Romano (Reston), 35-39—74

a – Garrett Whitmore (Midlothian), 37-37—74

a – Phil Mahone (Charlottesville), 36-38—74

a – Wayne Hall (Fredericksburg), 38-36—74

Mike Morrone, PGA (Richmond), 39-35—74

Jason Toryk, PGA (Winchester), 39-35—74

Adam Farry (Fairfax), 37-37—74

a – Daniel Walker (Earlysville), 35-40—75

a – Chad Mozingo (Culpeper), 38-37—75

a – Wade Wawner (Virginia Beach), 37-38—75

a – Jordan Carpenter (Suffolk), 42-33—75

a – Bowen Sargent (Charlottesville), 40-35—75

a – Matt Brantingham (Richmond), 37-38—75

Eric Cobb, PGA (Verona), 39-36—75

a – Britt Parnell (Midlothian), 40-35—75

Steven Jenkins (Chesterfield), 39-36—75

David Newsom, PGA (Leesburg), 37-38—75

Richard Runyon, PGA (Front Royal), 36-39—75

Mike Bell, PGA (Gainesville), 37-38—75

Ralph Reahard, PGA (Richmond), 39-36—75

a – Garland Green (Tazewell), 39-37—76

a – Paras Pandya (Midlothian), 38-38—76

a – Tom Grady (Marshall), 39-37—76

a – Jack Adkins (Martinsville), 38-38—76

a – Ralph Knapp (Virginia Beach), 40-36—76

a – Jay Livingston (Glen Allen), 37-39—76

a – Victor Monte (Chantilly), 38-38—76

a – Bob Jones (Williamsburg), 39-37—76

a – Jeff Newman (Midlothian), 37-39—76

Brad Gentry (Laurel Fork), 37-39—76

Tommy Joyce, PGA (Salem), 39-37—76

Mike King, PGA (Richmond), 40-36—76

John Stone, PGA (Newport News), 39-37—76

T.J. Young, PGA (Chesapeake), 39-37—76

John Madden, PGA (Leesburg), 39-37—76

Dean Sidoti, PGA (Midlothian), 39-37—76

Andy Viscardi, PGA (Carrollton), 39-37—76

a – Dan Hosek (Alexandria), 39-38—77

a – Wes Smith (Virginia Beach), 37-40—77

a – Jason Copeland (Norfolk), 38-39—77

a – Casey Thompson (Stephens City), 37-40—77

Mike Farewell, PGA (Manassas), 40-37—77

Patrick McGuire (Reston), 40-37—77

Brett Robertson, PGA (Midlothian), 37-40—77

Robert Weinerth, PGA (Martinsville), 40-37—77

Phil Bowers, PGA (Woodbridge), 37-40—77

Woody Fitzhugh, PGA (Great Falls), 41-36—77

Mike West, PGA (Richmond), 40-37—77

a – Ross Sumner (Callao), 42-35—77

a – Matthew Ball Jr. (Richmond), 39-39—78

a – Brad Chambers (Galax), 39-39—78

a – D.J. Dougherty (Glen Allen), 38-40—78

a – Larry Loving Jr. (Richmond), 38-40—78

Gary Anderson, PGA (Hampton), 41-37—78

Scott Graber, PGA (Chesterfield), 37-41—78

Mark Guttenberg, PGA (Aldie), 39-39—78

Jay Hardwick, PGA (Blacksburg), 41-37—78

Chris Hartig, PGA (Williamsburg), 38-40—78

Mike Gebhard, PGA (Glen Allen), 40-38—78

Craig Gunn, PGA (Danville), 39-39—78

Peter Mazza, PGA (Richmond), 38-40—78

Richard White, PGA (Chesterfield), 39-39—78

a – Ben Beach (Glen Allen), 41-38—79

a – Steve Douglass (Leesburg), 40-39—79

Jerry Donahue (Purcellville), 39-40—79

Roger Hatcher, PGA (Manassas), 41-38—79

Mark Lambert, PGA (Suffolk), 38-41—79

Ryan Nebera, PGA (Midlothian), 39-40—79

Aaron Palen, PGA (Leesburg), 39-40—79

Geoff Redgrave, PGA (Crozet), 40-39—79

a – Ben Lasso (Falls Church), 38-42—80

a – Steve Castro (Chantilly), 37-43—80

a – Cameron Warner III (Richmond), 39-41—80

Kevin Haney, PGA (Charlottesville), 40-40—80

Matthew Schulze, PGA (Midlothian), 42-38—80

Mike Thompson, PGA (Gordonsville), 40-40—80

Andy Weissinger, PGA (Portsmouth), 40-40—80

Steve WenPetren, PGA (Herndon), 40-40—80

Hank Jenkins, PGA (Richmond), 40-40—80

Eddie Luke, PGA (Virginia Beach), 40-40—80

Dan Stepnicka, PGA (Harrisonburg), 42-38—80

a – Ronnie Fultz III (Martinsville), 42-38—80

a – Scott Bemberis (Richmond), 43-38—81

Jeffrey Cornwell, PGA (Mechanicsville), 42-39—81

George Danielson, PGA (Oakton), 39-43—82

Tim Newsom, PGA (Suffolk), 39-43—82

a – Ryan Rettberg (Front Royal), 45-38—83

Rocky Fryar, PGA (Richmond), 43-40—83

Eric Woodward (Wintergreen), 44-39—83

Paul Watlington (Lynchburg), 40-44—84

a – Zack Bowman (Goucester), 47-38—85

John Benkovic, PGA (Sterling), 44-41—85

Andy Bemis, PGA (Glen Allen), 44-42—86

David Anderson, PGA (Richmond), 46-41—87

Jeffrey Moorefield (Richmond), 45-44—89

Matthew Hudgins (Glen Allen), 49-45—94

MIDLOTHIAN –– Groupings and starting times for the second round of the 2010 SunTrust State Open of Virginia at Independence Golf Club (7,029 yards, par 36-36—72) on Friday, July 16.

(a – denotes amateur)

All Times EDT

Friday (July 16), hole No. 1

7:30 a.m. – Jay Hardwick, PGA (Blacksburg); Tim White, PGA (Midlothian); a – Tim Kelley (Ashland)

7:39 a.m. – Jon Corliss, PGA (Virginia Beach); a – Buck Brittain (Tazewell); a – Dan Hosek (Alexandria)

7:48 a.m. – Mike West, PGA (Richmond); Mike Moyers, PGA (Stanardsville); a – Nick Austin (Midlothian)

7:57 a.m. – Richard White, PGA (Chesterfield); a – Wade Wawner (Virginia Beach); a – Jeff Long (Centreville)

8:06 a.m. – David Newsom, PGA (Leesburg); Robert Weinerth, PGA (Martinsville); a – Michael Wade (Floyd)

8:15 a.m. – Mark Lambert, PGA (Suffolk); Mike King, PGA (Richmond); a – Michael Taylor (Ashland)

8:24 a.m. – Bud Lintelman, PGA (Purcellville); Andy Weissinger, PGA (Portsmouth); a – Brian Post (Stephens City)

8:33 a.m. – Hank Jenkins, PGA (Richmond); a – Ryan Rettburg (Front Royal); a – Jeffrey Topp (Fairfax)

8:42 a.m. – T.J. Young, PGA (Chesapeake); Peter Mazza, PGA (Richmond); a – Andy Heye (Centreville)

8:51 a.m. – Kenneth Roseberry (Leesburg); a – Jeremy Wells (Hopewell); a – Chad Mozingo (Culpeper)

9 a.m. – Mike Farewell, PGA (Manassas); Andy Bemis, PGA (Glen Allen); a – Michael Shrader (Midlothian)

9:09 a.m. – George Danielson, PGA (Oakton); a – Chris Olson (Midlothian); a – Phil Mahone (Charlottesville)

9:18 a.m. – Brett Robertson, PGA (Midlothian); Dan Stepnicka, PGA (Harrisonburg); a – Casey Thompson (Stephens City)

9:27 a.m. – Geoff Redgrave, PGA (Crozet); a – Josh Apple (Lansdowne); a – Steve Douglass (Leesburg)

12 p.m. – Faber Jamerson, PGA (Appomattox); Rick Schuller, PGA (Chester); a – Scott Shingler (Haymarket)

12:09 p.m. – Stephen Gangluff (Charlottesville); a – Ben Keefer (Glen Allen); a – Marshall Bailey (Fincastle)

12:18 p.m. – Cameron Yancey (Blackstone); Mike Gooden, PGA (Harrisonburg); a – Scott Bemberis (Richmond)

12:27 p.m. – Tim Newsom, PGA (Suffolk); a – Brad Chambers (Galax); a – Kyle Bailey (Fincastle)

12:36 p.m. – Ryan Nebera, PGA (Midlothian); Richard Runyon, PGA (Front Royal); a – Vincent Nadeau (Richmond)

12:45 p.m. – Brad Gentry (Laurel Fork); a – Lee Fisher (Altavista); a – Weston Eklund (Charlottesville)

12:54 p.m. – Kevin Haney, PGA (Charlottesville); Adam Farry (Fairfax); a – Wes Smith (Virginia Beach)

1:03 p.m. – Andy Viscardi, PGA (Carrollton); a – Austin Gray (Midlothian); a – Steve Castro (Chantilly)

1:12 p.m. – John Benkovic, PGA (Sterling); Jason Toryk, PGA (Winchester); a – Ryan Patrick (Sterling)

1:21 p.m. – Rocky Fryar, PGA (Richmond); a – Jeff Newman (Midlothian); a – Zack Bowman (Gloucester)

1:30 p.m. – Scott Graber, PGA (Chesterfield); Jerry Donahue (Purcellville); Hampton Ballard (Pearisburg)

1:39 p.m. – Cary Sciorra, PGA (Gainesville); a – Jason Copeland (Norfolk); a – Ross Sumner (Callao)

1:48 p.m. – Gary Anderson, PGA (Hampton); a – Greg Brouse (Leesburg); Jerel Whiting (Martinsville)

1:57 p.m. – Ralph Reahard, PGA (Richmond); a – Francesco Romano (Reston); a – Ronnie Fultz III (Martinsville)

Friday (July 16), hole No. 10

7:30 a.m. – Steven Jenkins (Chesterfield); a – Adam Webb (Ridgeway); a – Daniel Walker (Earlysville)

7:39 a.m. – John Stone, PGA (Newport News); Dean Sumner, PGA (Callao); a – Tony Deluca (Purcellville)

7:48 a.m. – Tommy Joyce, PGA (Salem); a – Andrew Tilley (Ringgold); a – Scott Marino (Fairfax)

7:57 a.m. – Bryan Jackson, PGA (Palmyra); Roger Hatcher, PGA (Manassas); a – Glenn Mullian (Richmond)

8:06 a.m. – Woody Fitzhugh, PGA (Great Falls); a – Zack Henry (Front Royal); a – Aaron Eckstein (Salem)

8:15 a.m. – Matthew Schulze, PGA (Midlothian); Jeffrey Moorefield (Richmond); a – Jim McGuire (Haymarket)

8:24 a.m. – John Madden, PGA (Leesburg); a – Chris Tuttle (Virginia Beach); Steve Pierce (Bristow)

8:33 a.m. – Eddie Luke, PGA (Virginia Beach); Mark Guttenberg, PGA (Aldie); a – Ben Lasso (Falls Church)

8:42 a.m. – Chris Hartig, PGA (Williamsburg); a – D.J. Dougherty (Glen Allen); a – Seth Norman (Norfolk)

8:51 a.m. – a – Britt Parnell (Midlothian); John Miller, PGA (Leesburg); a – Ralph Knapp (Virginia Beach)

9 a.m. – David Anderson, PGA (Richmond); a – Jay Zapko (Glen Allen); a – Larry Loving Jr. (Richmond)

9:09 a.m. – Steve WenPetren, PGA (Herndon); Aaron Palen, PGA (Leesburg); a – Matt Brantingham (Richmond)

9:18 a.m. – Mike Morrone, PGA (Richmond); a – Bryce Chalkley (Richmond); a – Paul Woodson (Powhatan)

9:27 a.m. – Paul Watlington (Lynchburg); a – Paras Pandya (Midlothian); a – Matthew Neely (Monterey)

12 p.m. – Chip Sullivan, PGA (Troutville); a – Roger Newsom (Virginia Beach); a – Keith Decker (Martinsville)

12:09 p.m. – Jimmy Flippen Jr. (Danville); Eric Cobb, PGA (Verona); a – Garland Green (Tazewell)

12:18 p.m. – Jay Woodson (Richmond); a – Bowen Sargent (Charlottesville); a – Evan Beck (Virginia Beach)

12:27 p.m. – Jeffrey Cornwell, PGA (Mechanicsville); Dean Sidoti, PGA (Midlothian); a – Ben Beach (Glen Allen)

12:36 p.m. – Tim Crumrine (Richmond); a – Cameron Warner III (Richmond); a – Matthew Ball Jr. (Richmond)

12:45 p.m. – Craig Gunn, PGA (Danville); John O’Leary, PGA (Chantilly); a – Mikey Moyers (Stanardsville)

12:54 p.m. – Patrick McGuire (Reston); a – Dan Lesando (Ashburn); a – Starell Cox (Chesterfield)

1:03 p.m. – Mike Thompson, PGA (Gordonsville); Brendan McGrath, PGA (Centreville); a – Allen Barber (Yorktown)

1:12 p.m. – Mike Bell, PGA (Gainesville); a – Jordan Carpenter (Suffolk); a – Jack Adkins (Martinsville)

1:21 p.m. – Eric Woodward (Wintergreen); Mike Gebhard, PGA (Glen Allen); a – Jay Livingston (Glen Allen)

1:30 p.m. – Matthew Hudgins (Glen Allen); a – Bob Jones (Williamsburg); a – Adam Frank (Midlothian)

1:39 p.m. – Phil Bowers, PGA (Woodbridge); a – Garrett Whitmore (Midlothian); a – Tom Grady (Marshall)

1:48 p.m. – Michael Ferguson, PGA (Glen Allen); a – Victor Monte (Chantilly); Tony Bostic (Vienna)

1:57 p.m. – Jeffrey Thomas, PGA (Lynchburg); a – Wayne Hall (Fredericksburg); Richard Hanna (Stanardsville)