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What he didn't know then was how sporadic rain showers and gusty winds during the first two days would make a repeat of these low numbers as likely as a Lowcountry snowstorm.
"It's tough where you're out here and guys have shot a lot under par before, you want to do the same," he said, the wind blowing through his polo shirt. "So when you get here and see the golf course this firm, it's tough to get out of the mind-set."
Fortunately for Woltman, he's managed to literally weather the storm.
A day after nailing six birdies during a rain-delayed first round, the University of Wisconsin golfer shot an even 72 on a windy Friday to join Luke Bleumink and Bud Cauley in first at 3-under par. Curtis Thompson sits one shot back, while four others -- including the University of South Carolina's George Bryan IV -- are tied for fifth at even par.
Only six of the 80 competitors shot under par in the second round, lowering the bar and making mishaps more tolerable for a field filled with the world's best amateurs.
"I'm very satisfied with par," said Woltman, who entered the day one shot off the lead. "The greens are very firm and ... that wind, it's swirling around. I hit a lot of good shots today that didn't end good because the wind just swirled and changed directions on me."
Woltman shook off a slow start that included consecutive bogeys on the front nine, sinking three birdies before reacquainting with Mother Nature on his final hole. A blast of wind gobbled up Woltman's tee shot, landing him a few feet in the hazard and leading to a bogey that kept him from holding sole possession of the lead.
Granted, he wasn't the only one who struggled with the windy conditions on the 18th.
Six of the 10 golfers atop the leaderboard bogeyed No. 18, including Cauley, who saw birdies on his first two holes erased by a final double bogey before entering the clubhouse.
"These last three holes are definitely more exposed to the wind," said Cauley, who has shot 4 over on Nos. 16-18 through the first two rounds. "As firm as these greens are, you're kind of leery of going long. But then again, with the wind, you've got to make sure you get it there."
For some, it made for a conservative style of play, while others quite literally threw caution to the wind as the day's weather evolved. Ultimately, such unpredictability has leveled an already intense playing field and conjured up excitement for what could be a roller-coaster finish on Sunday.
And that's where Matt Savage drew his solace Friday after a tough 18 holes. The Florida State University golfer followed up a first-day effort of seven birdies with a six-bogey, zero-birdie second round to spiral into a tie for 19th at 4 over. Still, a glimmer of hope remained after Savage's disappointing day, as he knows that another sub-par round could easily surface in his future.
"It's just a matter of not getting too frustrated out there," said Savage, who had entered Friday one shot off the lead. "That's what happened to me today. It's been a long day and a difficult time for most of us. But that's why there are two more rounds, so hopefully the scores will keep going up where I can get back into things."
SECOND ROUND SCORES
Scores after Friday's second round of the 10th annual Players Amateur, being played on the par-72 West Course at Belfair Golf Club.
Daniel Woltman
69-72--141
Luke Bleumink
69-72--141
Bud Cauley
69-72--141
Curtis Thompson
69-73--142
Greg Doherty
71-73--144
John Hurley
72-72--144
George Bryan IV
74-70--144
John Tyler Griffin
69-75--144
Phillip Mollica
68-77--145
David Chung
72-73--145
Daniel Nisbet
72-73--145
Tarquin Macmanus
76-70--146
Conrad Shindler
74-72--146
Minghao Wang
73-73--146
Kevin Tway
73-73--146
Hudson Swafford
77-70--147
Drew Weaver
76-71--147
Ben Fuqua
74-73--147
Dodge Kemmer
70-78--148
Will Strickler
77-71--148
Andres Echavarria
73-75--148
Daniel Beckmann
77-71--148
Cody Gribble
74-74--148
Matt Savage
70-78--148
Adam Mitchell
75-73--148
Mark Anderson
73-75--148
Todd White
73-76--149
Brad Schneider
74-75--149
Gregor Main
77-72--149
Patrick Reed
69-80--149
Brian Harman
77-72--149
Mitch Krywulycz
74-75--149
Tim McKenney
74-76--150
Tom Hoge
77-73--150
Jonathan Khan
77-73--150
Kevin Foley
77-73--150
Kelly Kraft
75-76--151
Mark Silvers
75-76--151
James White
78-73--151
Reed Howard
77-74--151
Lee Palms
75-76--151
Tyson Alexander
76-75--151
Michael Smyth
75-76--151
Ben Pisani
73-79--152
Rich Werenski
74-78--152
Jin Jeong
77-75--152
Brady Exber
78-75--153
David May
74-79--153
Jon Pannone
76-77--153
Zack Byrd
75-78--153
Brinson Paolini
76-77--153
George Gandranata
77-77--154
Brandon Detweiler
75-79--154
Sam Saunders
76-78--154
Brent Witcher
79-75--154
Carter Newman
76-79--155
Patrick Rada
77-78--155
Ben Martin
80-75--155
Vaughn Snyder
82-73--155
Michael Barbosa
78-77--155
Jordan Sherratt
78-77--155
Tanner Smith
74-82--156
Derek Chang
75-81--156
Robert Gerwin
77-79--156
Ryan McCarthy
77-80--157
Charlie Holland
78-79--157
Chesson Hadley
78-79--157
William Fuller
81-77--158
Taylor Floyd
77-81--158
Duke Butler IV
76-82--158
Gavin Smith
78-80--158
Mike Stern
82-77--159
Garland Green
79-80--159
Christopher Lane II
77-83--160
Jimmy Chestnut
80-81--161
Graham Brockington
80-82--162
Robert Rohanna
82-80--162
John Kostis
82-81--163
William Miller
84-80--164
Rick LaRose
85-87--172
TODAY'S TEE TIMES
Tee times for today's third round of the 10th annual Players Amateur, to be played on the par-72 West Course at Belfair Golf Club.
7:30 a.m.: William Miller, Rick LaRose.
7:38 a.m.: Graham Brockington, John Kostis.
7:46 a.m.: Jimmy Chestnut, Robert Rohanna.
7:54 a.m.: Mike Stern, Christoper Lane.
8:02 a.m.: Gavin Smith, Garland Green.
8:10 a.m.: Taylor Floyd, William Fuller.
8:18 a.m.: Ryan McCarthy, Duke Butler IV.
8:26 a.m.: Charlie Holland, Chesson Hadley.
8:34 a.m.: Derek Chang, Tanner Smith.
8:42 a.m.: Carter Newman, Robert Gerwin.
8:50 a.m.: Vaughn Snyder, Patrick Rada.
8:58 a.m.: Michael Barbosa, Ben Martin.
9:06 a.m.: George Gandranata, Jordan Sherratt.
9:22 a.m.: Brandon Detweiler, Brent Witcher.
9:30 a.m.: Brady Exber, Sam Saunders.
9:38 a.m.: Brinson Paolini, David May.
9:46 a.m.: Zack Byrd, Jon Pannone.
9:54 a.m.: Jim Jeong, Ben Pisani.
10:02 a.m.: Kelly Kraft, Rich Werenski.
10:10 a.m.: James White, Mark Silvers.
10:18 a.m.: Michael Smyth, Reed Howard.
10:26 a.m.: Tyson Alexander, Lee Palms.
10:34 a.m.: Kevin Foley, Tim McKenney.
10:42 a.m.: Tom Hoge, Jonathan Khan.
10:50 a.m.: Brad Schneider, Todd White.
10:58 a.m.: Gregor Main, Mitch Krywulycz.
11:14 p.m.: Brian Harman, Patrick Reed.
11:22 p.m.: Will Strickler, Dodge Kemmer.
11:30 p.m.: Andres Echavarria, Mark Anderson.
11:38 p.m.: Daniel Beckham, Matt Savage.
11:46 p.m.: Cody Gribble, Adam K. Mitchell.
11:54 p.m.: Drew Weaver, Hudson Swafford.
12:02 p.m.: Tarquin Macmanus, Ben Fuqua.
12:10 p.m.: Kevn Tway, Conrad Shindler.
12:18 p.m.: Phillip Mollica, Minghao Wang.
12:26 p.m.: Daniel Nisbet, David Chung.
12:34 p.m.: John Tyler Griffin, Greg Doherty.
12:42 p.m.: John Hurley, George Bryan IV.
12:50 p.m.: Daniel Woltman, Curtis Thompson.
12:58 p.m.: Bud Cauley, Luke Bleumink.
