Neshannock High’s Nikko Giangiuli is tied for 46th place after the second round of the AJGA Junior.

Giangiuli, who entered the second day of the three-day golf tournament six shots out of the lead and tied for 28th in the boys division, carded a 7-over-par 79 yesterday at the New Castle Country Club. He is now 15 shots behind the leader.

Giangiuli scored a 40 on the front nine and a 39 on the back. With his first-round 76, he has a 155 total with one round left to play today.

Fellow Neshannock golfer Jonathan Acosta is tied for 70th after shooting an 80. Acosta entered the second round tied for 71st and shot a 40 on both on front and backside.

The event is conducted by the American Junior Golf Association with a field of 98 players — 75 boys and 28 girls from 20 states, Canada and Thailand — are competing in a 54-hole stroke play tournament.

Erie’s Gregor Orlando used a second round 3-under 69 to take the lead in the boys division.

“If you can keep it in the fairways then you’ll probably have a good score,” he said. “My tee shots have been very good this week and that is a large part of the reason I’m where I’m at.”

Andrew Knox of Cary, N.C., fired a 5-under 67 and sits in second after two rounds at 141. Andrew Kim of Lake Mary, Fla., trails at 2-under 142. Tied for fourth at 1-under 143 are Patrick Leisure of Charlottesville, Va., and Ryan Vince of Charlotte, N.C.

Hopewell’s Brandon and Brock Pompeani also are competing in the event. The two high school stars are nephews of KDKA-TV sports anchor Bob Pompeani.

Brandon carded a 76 to finish the round tied for 49th with a 156. Brock, his twin, fell back to 61st after scoring an 81 to total a 159.

In the girls division, Waynesburg Central’s Rachel Rohanna and Susana Benavides of Bradenton, Fla., shot identical rounds of 1-over 73 for the second straight day.

“I had 35 putts today and still shot 1-over-par,” Rohanna said. “I had to two-putt the par-5’s coming in for birdies to get to 1-over.”

Rohanna’s tee shots kept her competitive.

“My driver was so much better today than yesterday,” she said. “It kept me comfortable and confident and today that really helped me.”

Both Rohanna and Benavides hope to challenge one another today.