STRATHAM — Windham resident Connor Greenleaf will enter the match-play portion of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship with plenty of momentum.

Greenleaf, 16, capped the second day of stroke play by making a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at The Golf Club of New England in Stratham, and secured a spot in match play by shooting a 3-over-par 75.

Greenleaf's two-day total of 149 earned him the No. 36 seed. The cut came at 153.

“I didn't even realize it when I hit the putt that I was that close to the (cut) line,” Greenleaf said. “I just wanted to make a four. I'm really satisfied with how I played today.

“The goal at the start was making it to match play. I'm feeling good right now.”

Greenleaf's birdie followed a double bogey on the par-3 17th hole.

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“I put it in the water,” he explained. “The wind kicked up right in the middle of my shot. It hit over the green, bounced into the rough and bounced into the water. I had some unlucky breaks coming down the stretch, but the birdie at the end settled the deal. Conditions were a lot harder today. Pins were harder.”

Greenleaf will face Victor Wiggins of Gastonia, N.C., when the tournament format shifts to match play today. Wiggins also completed stroke play with a two-day total of 149, and is seeded 29th. That match is scheduled to begin at 9:42 a.m.

“It really doesn't matter who you play,” Greenleaf said. “Anyone can have a bad round.”

Three players shared medalist honors: Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y., Shintaro Ban of San Jose, Calif., and Nicolas Echavarria of Medellin, Colombia. All three completed the two days of stroke play at 3 under par (141).

Liu, the 2010 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, birdied five of his first eight holes Tuesday.

“I just started hitting it pure, and making the putts,” Liu said. “It was just an even stretch of golf, and then the wind picked up.”

Max McGreevy, who owned a two-stroke lead after Monday's round, followed his 68 with a 79.

A playoff will be held this morning to finalize the field of 64 players who will participate in today's first round of match play. Seven players will be competing for one spot. The sudden-death playoff will be held on holes 16, 17 and 18.

There will be two rounds of match play Thursday, and one round Friday. Saturday's championship match is scheduled for 36 holes.

Keene's Chelso Barrett is among those who failed to make the cut. Barrett, the runner-up in this tournament last summer, followed up his 78 Monday with a 76 Tuesday and missed the playoff by one shot.

“I was 1 over through nine and figured if I made a couple birdies on the back nine I'd be looking pretty good for the cut,” Barrett said. “I made a triple bogey on 16 that put me at 4 over and took me out of it.

“I thought par or 1 or 2 under was going to do it, but I just didn't come though. My ball striking was really poor both days. When you're playing a course like this you have to hit the ball well.”

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Roger Brown may be reached at rbrown@unionleader.com.