WVU senior Alan Cooke leads field at WV Amateur
(West Virginia Athletics Photo)
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV (June 8, 2016) -- West Virginia senior Alan Cooke struggled during a difficult third round but still leads as the West Virginia Amateur heads to its final day tomorrow. Cooke began the day 2-under but shot a third round 4-over 76 to fall to 2-over. He holds a two-stroke lead over three others through 54-holes of play at the famous Greenbrier Resort.
Cooke couldn't get anything going on the front nine as he bogeyed four of the final five holes, including three in a row from holes 5-7. After turning in 4-over 40 Cooke was able to right the ship a bit on the back nine with two birdies and two bogeys.
The three players that will begin the final round two off the lead and in second place are Phillip Reale II, defending champion Sam O'Dell and Will Evans. All three players are 4-over-par. Reale II matched the low round of the day with a 1-over 73.
Pat Carter and Jeff McGraw will both begin the final round five-strokes behind at 7-over, in a tie for fifth.
36-HOLE RECAP
Alan Cooke holds the lead after the second round of the 97th West Virginia Amateur. Cooke, 2-under, will take a slim one shot lead over two others into the third round.
After opening with a even-par 70 on Monday, Cooke put together a 2-under 68 second round to move to the top of the leaderboard. Cooke's first birdie of the day came on No. 3 and it was the first of four on the day, to go along with two bogeys. His final two birds came back-to-back on holes 16-17.
Will Evans put together the round of the day on Tuesday, firing a 3-under 67 as he moved into a second place tie at 1-under-par. Evans birdied four holes and bogeyed just one as he surged up the leaderboard and put himself in position to make a move during the third round.
Joining Evans in second place is Jeff McGraw (-1). Rounds of 73-68 has McGraw only one shot behind Cooke. During his 2-under 68 second round, McGraw saved all his circles and squares for the back nine with three birdies including one on 18 and a bogey.
Sam O'Dell and Ben Palmer will begin the third round 2-over and tied for fourth.
View results for West Virginia Amateur
ABOUT THE West Virginia Amateur
Must be a WVGA member, players who are not
exempt
must qualify at one of the six qualifying locations in
May. Format is 72-holes of stroke play championship
with the field cut to the low 48 players and ties at
the
completion of 36 holes.
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