Little has big day on home course

Between work and a slew of golf tournaments on the weekends, Crozet native Nick Little hasn’t found the time to play his home course as he did in the past.

“Most summers I’d play out here a lot,” Little said. “But this summer I haven’t had a chance to play 18 very often. But the course is in great shape and I’m comfortable out here.”

Little is making the most of the opportunity to play so close to home, shooting a 5-under 66 in the second round of the Old Trail Invitational.

“I was chipping well today,” Little said. “I hit the flag a couple times, sunk my chip on 13. The short game is pretty sharp right now and that’s always nice. It gives you a chance to pick up some easy birdies.”

The former Western Albemarle golfer put up the same score in the first round on Friday. At 10-under par heading into the final round, Little has given himself a five-stroke lead over the field.

“Now I have to go out and play likes it’s the first hole of the tournament,” Little said.

Keswick’s Dustin Groves (Monticello) sits in second place after putting up a 2-under 69 to follow up his 68 in the first round.

“I know Dustin is more than capable of shooting a great round out here,” Little said. “He shot a 63 out here a couple of weeks ago at the State Amateur qualifier. So I just need to make sure I go out there and play well.”

Groves, who plays for Wake Forest, knows he’s going to have to put up something special to catch Little.

“I’m going to have to shoot at least a 63 or 64 to do it,” Groves said. “I know I can do it, but I’m going to have make some putts. Hopefully I can get out there, get some early birdies and put some pressure on him.”

Joining Little and Groves in the leaders group is William Monroe golfer Mikey Moyers.

“I probably should have shot a 7- or 8-under,” said Moyers. “I missed a two-footer and it horseshoed back at me and then again on the next hole.”

While slightly disappointed after leaving a few strokes on the green, the 2007 VHSL Group AA champion still managed to put in the second-best round of the day, shooting a 67. Moyers is six shots behind Little.

“He’s going tough to beat,” Moyers said of Little. “I’m going to try and go low tomorrow, keep everything the same and hopefully make a couple more putts.”