Geoff Vartelas is the individual leader after the second round (photo/USGA Chris Keane)

Geoff Vartelas is the individual leader after the second round (photo/USGA Chris Keane)

Geoff Vartelas fired his second consecutive under-par round on Thursday, putting him at the top of the individual leader board. More importantly, Vartelas’ fine play lifted Connecticut into sole possession of the lead heading into the final round of the 12th USGA Men’s State Team Championship at the 7,162-yard West Course at the Country Club of Birmingham.

Missouri was tied with Connecticut and two other states for the top spot after the first day. Missouri is one of seven teams within five shots of the lead.

Richard Berkmeyer from Wildwood shot four over after a first round a 2-under 69. Brad Nurski of St. Joe even par-71 both rounds. Sam Migdal from Ballwin 12 over after two rounds.

A total of 23 teams made the 36-hole cut, which reduced the field to the low 21 teams and ties. Among the notable teams to miss were host state Alabama and New York, which featured reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad.

The United States Golf Association conducts the USGA Men’s State Team Championship on a biennial basis. It features teams of three players from all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Eighteen holes of stroke play are conducted over three days, with the two lowest scores of the three individuals counting as the team’s score for the round.

12th USGA MEN’S STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 
Connecticut – 281; Geoff Vartelas, Cromwell – 68-70–138; John Flaherty, Glastonbury – 72-71–143; Chet Hrostek, New Milford – 81-80–161
Pennsylvania – 283; Christopher Crawford, Bensalem – 69-70–139; Chip Lutz, Reading – 74-71–145; Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh – 73-74–147
Arizona – 284; Ken Tanigawa, Paradise Valley – 71-70–141; Cory Bacon, Cave Creek – 73-70–143; Bryan Hoops, Chandler – 77-76–153
North Carolina – 285; Justin Tereshko, Greensboro – 71-68–139; Scott Harvey, Kernersville – 75-71–146; David Gies II, Charlotte – 76-77–153
Minnesota – 285; Trent Peterson, Eagan – 72-68–140; Jesse Bull, Hopkins – 71-75–146; Andrew McCain, Minneapolis – 75-74–149
Michigan – 285; Tom Werkmeister, Grandville – 71-70–141; Evan Bowser, Dearborn – 73-71–144; Anthony Sorentino, Shelby Township – 83-78–161
Missouri – 286; Brad Nurski, St. Joseph – 71-71–142; Richard Berkmeyer, Wildwood – 69-75–144; Sam Migdal, Ballwin – 75-79–154
Washington – 286; Erik Hanson, Kirkland – 74-68–142; Reid Hatley, Spokane – 72-72–144; Tom Brandes, Bellevue – 79-77–156
Florida – 287; Joe Alfieri, Lutz – 73-71–144; Marc Dull, Winter Haven – 71-75–146; Jake Kevorkian, St. Petersburg – 84-72–156
Texas – 287; Joshua Irving, Dallas – 68-75–143; Scott Abbott, Dallas – 79-72–151; Zach Atkinson, Colleyville – 72-80–152
Ohio – 288; Bill Williamson, Cincinnati – 69-76–145; Brandon Pluchinsky, North Lima – 74-72–146; Jeffrey Scohy, Bellbrook – 71-81–152
Indiana – 288; Kenny Cook, Noblesville – 71-72–143; Sean Rowen, Greenwood – 72-73–145; Brett Widner, Avon – 79-76–155
New Jersey – 290; Michael Stamberger, Brielle – 74-68–142; Trevor Randolph, Franklin Lakes – 73-78–151; Brian Komline, Bridgewater – 79-75–154
Virginia – 291; Scott Shingler, Haymarket – 74-70–144; Justin Young, Salem – 73-74–147; Keith Decker, Martinsville – 77-76–153
Kentucky – 291; Andy Roberts, Owensboro – 74-71–145; Joseph Deraney, Lexington – 74-72–146; Denver Haddix, Lexington – 77-78–155
Massachusetts – 291; Herbie Aikens, Kingston – 72-72–144; Matt Parziale, Brockton – 71-76–147; John Kelly, East Longmeadow – 75-78–153
Tennessee – 291; Craig Smith, Nashville – 72-73–145; Philip Lee, White Bluff – 75-71–146; Tim Jackson, Germantown – 78-73–151
South Carolina – 293; Todd White, Spartanburg – 76-71–147; Todd Hendley, Greer – 79-72–151; Robert Dargan, Columbia – 74-85–159
West Virginia – 293; Sam O’Dell, Hurricane – 72-73–145; Patrick Carter, Huntington – 74-75–149; Philip Reale, South Charleston – 78-74–152
New Mexico – 293; Marty Sanchez, Santa Fe – 72-74–146; James Lee, Albuquerque – 74-73–147; Kevin Sivage, Albuquerque – 82-84–166
Iowa – 296; Jon Olson, Ankeny – 71-73–144; Gene Elliott, West Des Moines – 77-76–153; Michael McCoy, Des Moines – 80-75–155
Louisiana – 296; Robby McWilliams, Benton – 74-73–147; Patrick Christovich, New Orleans – 73-78–151; Brandon Aydlett, Metairie – 80-76–156
Mississippi – 296; Clay Homan, Starkville – 76-70–146; Ben Snow, Hattiesburg – 75-81–156; Josh Lampley, Gulfport – 82-75–157
Rhode Island – 297; Bobby Leopold, Coventry – 73-75–148; Kyle Hoffman, Lincoln – 74-75–149; Brad Valois, Warwick – 74-80–154
Oregon – 297; Jesse Heinly, Bend – 73-74–147; Justin Kadin, Bend – 74-76–150; Conner Barr, Beaverton – 84-84–168
Idaho – 298; Jesse Hibler, Meridian – 72-75–147; Arthur Lynch, Boise – 78-73–151; Justin McAfee, Boise – 84-78–162
Colorado – 299; Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield – 75-74–149; Keith Humerickhouse, Eagle – 75-75–150; Nick Nosewicz, Aurora – NC-75–NC
Alabama – 299; Matt Johnson, Dothan – 74-75–149; Woodie Eubanks, Trussville – 76-75–151; Steven Groover, Birmingham – 82-74–156
New York – 301; Tyler McArdell, Baldwinsville – 75-75–150; Stewart Hagestad, New York – 72-79–151; Luke Hobika, DeWitt – 75-82–157
Puerto Rico – 302; Erick Morales, Sabana Seca – 72-73–145; Daniel Caban, Cabo Rojo – 79-80–159; Melvin Morales, Humacao – 84-78–162
District of Columbia – 302; Ryan Tendall, Washington – 73-77–150; Endel Liias, Washington – 79-74–153; Tom Wharton, Washington – 78-87–165
Oklahoma – 302; Heath Myers, Kingfisher – 77-74–151; Michael Hughett, Owasso – 79-76–155; Draegen Majors, Tulsa – 75-82–157
Utah – 302; Cameron Crawford, Bluffdale – 74-75–149; Ryan Brimley, Herriman – 77-78–155; Dan Horner, Sandy – 81-76–157
Maryland – 302; Mark Cusic, California – 76-72–148; Ben Warnquist, Olney – 75-79–154; Dan Falls, Gaithersburg – 78-83–161
Maine – 303; Andrew Slattery, Auburn – 73-75–148; Jack Wyman, South Freeport – 76-79–155; Ricky Jones, Thomaston – 78-89–167
Illinois – 304; Tee-K Kelly, Wheaton – 73-76–149; Kyle Nathan, Glenview – 78-77–155; Todd Mitchell, Bloomington – 78-79–157
California – 304; Ashwin Arasu, San Diego – 77-75–152; Dan Erickson, Whittier – 77-75–152; Thomas Hutchison, San Jose – 78-76–154
Kansas – 304; Bradley Lane, Lawrence – 76-75–151; Max Lazzo, Wichita – 74-79–153; Tim McKinnis, Lyons – 80-87–167
Georgia – 306; John Engler, Augusta – 78-70–148; Colin Bowles, Albany – 80-81–161; Jack Hall, Savannah – 77-84–161
New Hampshire – 306; Cameron Salo, New Ipswich – 77-77–154; Jamie Ferullo, Rochester – 77-77–154; Ryan Kohler, Chesterfield – 80-75–155
Arkansas – 307; Beau Glover, North Little Rock – 76-73–149; Stephen Cox, Jonesboro – 82-76–158; Trey Schaap, Little Rock – 82-85–167
Delaware – 307; Jay Whitby, Wyoming – 69-73–142; Gregory Wolfe, Newark – 88-77–165; Jeffrey Allen, Wyoming – 94-80–174
North Dakota – 308; Rick Kuhn, Bismarck – 76-76–152; Bill Carlson, Fargo – 80-79–159; Justin Redding, Minot – 84-76–160
Vermont – 309; Eric Lajeunesse, Barre – 80-73–153; Garren Poirier, Killington – 79-77–156; Bryan Smith, Jay – 82-77–159
Wisconsin – 309; Kyle Driscoll, Pewaukee – 75-75–150; Robert Gregorski, Menasha – 82-77–159; Kevin Cahill, Waukesha – 83-77–160
Hawaii – 310; Jun Ho Won, Honolulu – 79-74–153; Tyler Ota, Aiea – 79-81–160; Andrew Chin, Honolulu – 76-85–161
Montana – 310; Mark Mance, Whitefish – 80-76–156; Jim Coleman, Billings – 79-79–158; Craig Hurlbert, Hamilton – 76-82–158
South Dakota – 311; Michael Keeton, Pierre – 80-76–156; Jesse Talcott, Harrisburg – 75-84–159; Julean Michels, Sioux Falls – 84-80–164
Nebraska – 312; Gregory Stanek, Bellevue – 72-80–152; Ryan Nietfeldt, Elkhorn – 82-81–163; Brian Csipkes, Gretna – 79-86–165
Alaska – 314; Jordan Miller, Anchorage – 83-75–158; Adam Baxter, Anchorage – 81-79–160; Greg Sanders, Anchorage – 79-88–167
Nevada – 314; Edward Fryatt, Las Vegas – 77-79–156; Jacob Wilner, Reno – 79-80–159; David Nelson, Reno – 80-79–159
Wyoming – 331; John Hornbeck, Saratoga – 81-78–159; Dave Balling, Cody – 87-85–172; Mark Isakson, Sheridan – 87-92–179