Sarah Bertram will look to go wire-ti-wire on Sunday
(CGA Photo)
WILMINGTON, NC (June 3, 2017) - Mary Chandler Bryan of Chapin, S.C. and Sarah Bertram of Concord, N.C. are tied for first at even-par 144 heading into the final round of the 91st Carolinas Women's Amateur Championship at Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, N.C.
Bryan, 23, started hot on her opening nine, making three birdies, but "cooled off" on her back nine. "I hit three good shots and made those putts; my putter was hot," said Bryan. "On the back nine, my putter wasn't hot and I hit three bad shots. I am really expecting tomorrow to be better." Bryan's strategy heading into tomorrow, "Keep the putter hot the hole time, that would be key."
Bertram, a 22-year-old Gardner-Webb women's golf alum, felt she played well today, despite relinquishing her lead. "I think I hit it just as well as I did yesterday, I just didn't make as many putts," said Bertram after hitting 16 greens-in-regulation. "I just have to come out and play like I did yesterday, not that today was bad, stay calm and play my game."
Trailing Bryan and Bertram by one-shot are Kayla Thompson of Whiteville, N.C. and defending champion Ashley Sloup of Southport, N.C. Thompson, a member of the UNC-Wilmington women's golf team, started Saturday T10, but used three birdies and a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 eighth hole to climb up the leaderboard. "[My performance] was good," said Thompson. "I hit the driver really well and was in the fairway, so I had a chance to hit the flag, which was something that I had struggled with."
Tied for third, Thompson and Sloup posted one-over 145 after two rounds.
The youngest competitor in the field, 13-year-old Katherine Schuster of Kill Devil Hills, N.C. is part of a five-player group two-shots back of the lead.
Patty Moore of Charlotte, N.C. continues to lead the Carolinas Division, finishing the day seven-over 151 to extend her lead to seven shots. Mona Jackson of Wilmington, N.C. and June Wang of Huntersville, N.C. are tied for second at 14-over 158.
Sunday's final round will begin with a 9:00am shotgun start. The lead group of Bertram, Bryan, Sloup, and Thompson will tee off from the first hole.
View results for Carolinas Women's Amateur
ABOUT THE Carolinas Women's Amateur
The championship is conducted at 54 holes of
stroke play (no cut). All players, regardless of
Handicap Index, have the option to play in the
Championship Division or the Carolinas Division. The
Overall Champion will be determined from the
contestants playing in the Championship Division.
Awards will also be given for the low senior in the
Championship and Carolinas divisions (age 50-64),
the low Super Senior in the Carolinas Division (ages
65 and older), and the medalist in the Championship
Division (low score after 36 holes).
Entry is open to any female amateur golfer who
has reached her 13th birthday by the first day of the
championship, is a legal resident of North Carolina
or
South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a
club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf
Association and has an active USGA Handicap Index
at a CGA member club that does not exceed 40.4.
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