BIRMINGHAM, AL (July 15, 2010)--Californian Patrick Cantlay kicked away a 3-shot lead on the final hole of the 104th Southern Amateur Friday, falling into a three-way tie heading to Saturday’s finale at Shoal Creek Country Club.
Cantlay’s triple-bogey 7 on the 18th opened the door for Alabama ’s Bud Cauley and Auburn ’s Blayne Barber, leaving all three at 11-under-par 205. One more shot back at 206 is Taiwanese teen Cheng Tsung Pan.
A perk awaiting the winner is an exempt spot in the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando next March. Cantlay, the Cal state high school champ and headed for UCLA this fall, admits he’s been thinking about that possible date with Arnie. But he was thinking more of enjoying a 3-stroke cushion over the elite international field after he had just eagled the 17th hole – his second of the day. But he then drove left into the woods, couldn’t find it and had to go back to re-tee.
“I can’t dwell on that now,” Cantlay said bravely afterward. “I’m still tied for the lead and if someone had told me that at the start of the tournament, I’d have been happy.”
Now he’ll have to fend off Cauley, one of the world’s top ranked amateurs, who shot 68 on Friday. After an opening bogey, he reeled off three straight birds to stay in contention. “That exemption would be a nice gift, but winning the Southern Amateur wouldn’t mean any less to me even if there wasn’t one,’’ said the Crimson Tide All-American.
Barber, who transferred from Central Florida to Auburn this past year, vaulted out of the pack with a 6-under 66 highlighted by a 50-foot birdie putt.
104th Southern Amateur, 3rd Round Leaders
Shoal Creek CC, Birmingham , Par 72, 7,211 yards.
Patrick Cantlay, Los Alamitos CA . . . . 66-68-71—205
Bud Cauley, Jacksonville FL . . . . . . . . 73-63-68—205
Blayne Barber, Lake City FL . . . . . . . 70-69-66—205
Cheng Tsung Pan, Miaoli Taiwan ……… 65-70-71—206
Alex Carpenter, Little Rock AR . . . . . 70-67-70—207
Ben Kohles, Cary NC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68-67-73—208
Russell Henley, Macon GA . . . . . . . . . 70-67-71—208
Kieran Pratt, Torquay AUS . . . . . . . . . 71-66-71—208
Conrad Shindler, Westlake TX . . . . . . . 71-70-68—209
Corbin Mills, Easley SC . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-70-69—209
Andrew Putnam, Univ. Place, WA . . . . 73-66-70—209
Ryan McCarthy, Burnie, Tasmania . . . . 72-68-69—209
ABOUT THE Southern Amateur
The Southern Amateur, which dates back to 1902, is
one of two competitions held by the Southern Golf
Association (the other is the Southern Junior). This
is a 72-hole stroke play championship with a cut
made after 36 holes. Entries are open to any male
amateur golfer who has a current USGA Handicap
Index® not exceeding 3.4 under the USGA Handicap
System. Non-exempt players must pre-qualify at
one of the qualifying sites held across the southern
U.S. in the two months leading up to the
championship.
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