After the first 36 holes on Thursday, Ross owned a one-shot lead over Jack Hobens,[3] who recorded the first hole-in-one in U.S. Open history in the second round.
Hobens led Nicholls by one after the third round on Friday morning, but an 85 in the afternoon dropped him to fourth place. Ross began the round two behind Hobens and shot a 76 to prevail by two over Nicholls, who shot 79. Ross' older brother Donald, the famed golf course architect, finished tenth.[1][2]