Wellington's Myles Miller, K-State's Ben Juffer head to Match Play on top

NEWTON, Kan. — The 64-player bracket is set for match play at the 102nd Kansas Amateur Championship.

The field completed its second day of stroke play qualifying on Wednesday in another scorcher at Newton's Sand Creek Station Golf Club.

Wellington's Myles Miller and West Des Moines, Iowa's Ben Juffer shared medalist honors at 9-under 135.

Miller, the 2011 KGA junior player of the year, tied for low round of the championship with a 7-under 65 Wednesday. Wellington's Miller, who'll transfer to Newman University this fall, birdied Sand Creek Station's difficult par-5 10th hole to start his round. He birdied two more holes on his first nine and then added four more on the front side, including four of his last six holes, during his bogey-free round.

"I'll hit a bad drive on 11, hadn't quite found my groove then on about 15 I found my rhythm," said Miller, 18. "About halfway through the round I was driving it great, didn't miss any fairways the last 12 holes. I was hitting really solid and making some putts."

Miller says he doesn't plan any strategy changes as match play begins.

"No. I hit driver on every hole," Miller said. "I think when it comes to match play the field becomes level."

Juffer, headed into his senior year at Kansas State, had his second straight solid round with a 4-under 68 on day two to go along with an opening 67 and tie Miller at the top at 135. Juffer also birdied No. 10, and made it three in row with birdies at Nos. 11 and 12. He added two more in a front-side 34 and had just one bogey on the day.

"I hit the ball well. I started on the back and I birdied No. 10 that's a good start," said the 21-year-old KSU business student. "You've got to hit it straight off the tee and I'm hitting my driver good the last few months. Hopefully it keeps going."

Juffer also he plans to keep doing what's he's been doing as match play begins.

"I don't think you change anything. Keep hitting greens that's all you really need to do in match play," he says.

First-round leader Harry Higgs shot 5-under 31 on his front nine Wednesday but suffered a triple bogey 8 at the par-5 16th. Overland Park's Higgs finished with a 2-under 70 on the day to finish one behind Miller and Juffer at 136. Higgs is the third seed for match play.

Defending champion Hunter Sparks of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Wichita State, shot 5-under 67 on Wednesday to finish at 4-under 140 and grab the fourth seed for match play. Hutchinson's Thane Ringler tied Miller for low round of stroke play with a 7-under 65 Wednesday to move to 3-under 141. Ringler, who attends The Masters College in Santa Clarita, Calif., shot 32 on Sand Creek's back nine (his first nine of the day) and then had an eagle 2 at the par-4 fifth hole. He'll be the fifth seed.

The 36-hole cut came at 10-over 154. Sixty-three players were at 9-over 153 or better. Eleven players entered a playoff for just one spot. Pittsburg's Steve Sloan emerged from the playoff with the 64 seed and takes on Miller in the opening round's first match, teeing off at 7 a.m. Thursday.