Southern Am: McManus leads into final round
PALM HARBOR, FL – Tarquin McManus, a University of Arizona senior from Cairns, Australia, holds a one-stroke lead heading into Saturday’s final round of the 105th Southern Amateur at Innisbrook Resort Copperhead course.
McManus fired a 5-under-par 66 on Friday to take the lead at 206 thanks to a sterling up-and-down save from out of the rough short of the 18th hole. That total kept him one stroke in front of UCLA All-American Gregor Main and Georgia Tech sophomore Richy Werenski, who said he will be playing in the final group at any significant tournament for the first time in his memory. “And this is definitely a significant event,” McManus said of a venerable Southern Am that has evolved into a national and international major amateur.
Main, who overcame a run of three bogeys midway through his opening nine Friday, will be gunning for his second Southern Am title, having won this event two years ago in Memphis.
A perk awaiting the winner is an exempt spot in the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando next March.
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.
View Complete Tournament Information