Nathaniel Goddard

Going to the head of the class Saturday in emphatic fashion was Colorado Christian University golfer Nathaniel Goddard, of Ptarmigan Country Club, who shot the low round of the tournament -- an 8-under-par 63 -- to build a four-shot margin.

Goddard, a semifinalist last month in the CGA Match Play -- also held at CommonGround -- fired the 63 despite three bogeys, including one on his first hole. He did it by making two eagles -- including one on the 355-yard, par-4 eighth hole -- and adding seven birdies.

The round was two off the course record of 61 set in June by Reese Ramsey of Austin, Texas in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior.

The 63 left Goddard (pictured) at 13-under-par 200 going into Sunday's final round. Only one player -- second-round leader Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club, a University of Denver golfer -- is closer than seven shots to the lead. Korte fired a 1-under-par 70 to sit in second place, at 9-under 204.

Four players are tied for third at 207 -- likewise all golfers from Colorado-based colleges: Ethan Freeman of Glenmoor Country Club and Ross Macdonald of The Country Club at Castle Pines (both University of Colorado), Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club (Colorado State University) and Colin Prater of The Broadmoor Golf Club (University of Colorado-Colorado Springs).

Prater carded a 66, Macdonald and Makloski 69s, and Freeman a 71. Makloski was a runner-up in last year's CGA Stroke Play. Prater's 66 was the second-lowest round on Saturday, besides Goddard's. In fact, only four players shot in the 60s in the third round.

Goddard, Korte and Prater will tee off for Sunday's final round at 9:20 a.m.

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