Jose Montaño extends Cardinal Amateur lead
36-hole Cardinal Amateur leader Jose Montaño
GREENSBORO, North Carolina (July 29, 2017) — Jose Montaño, 21, had another impressive outing today, adding to his lead at the Cardinal Am with a 3-under 67. He now stands at 8-under for the tournament.
“It’s definitely tougher today. The winds started to blow,” mentioned the Bolivian in regards to the conditions today at Sedgefield Country Club’s Dye Course. “I hit the ball a little better than yesterday though, and I made some good up-and-downs.”
Montaño made his first birdie on the long par-5 4th, then after pars on Nos. 5 and 6, rolled in a 20-footer for birdie on No. 7.
“It was the first long putt I made today and it kind of got my confidence up for the day,” said Montaño.
Montaño would rely on this confidence while knocking down crucial par-putts on Nos. 8, 10, and 14. On No. 15, the UNC player must have forgotten about the putter altogether, capping off a day of stellar play by holing a 30-yard pitch for his second eagle in two days on the 576-yard par-5 16th.
“I feel like my game has adapted to this course pretty well. I feel comfortable around the golf course, and I really feel confident about tomorrow,” offered Montaño. “I’m going to try to do my own thing and hopefully the pieces fall into place.”
Trailing Montaño by 3-shots is Luis Ruiz (68-67=135). Ruiz plays for Coastal Carolina University, Dustin Johnson's alma mater. Thomas Tilly (Newton, North Carolina) and Jackson Spires (Fayetteville, N.C.) are T3 at 4-under.
The final round of the Cardinal Amateur will begin at 8:30 AM ET, with Montaño teeing off at in the final group at 10:27, along with Ruiz, and former East Carolina player, Spires.
ABOUT THE Cardinal Amateur
The Cardinal Amateur, presented by McConnell
Golf, is held at the Sedgefield Country Club, Pete
Dye Course in Greensboro, NC. 54-hole stroke
play tournament. Many former competitors are
now on the PGA, Senior PGA and Nationwide
tours. The field consists of 78 contestants,
chosen among college level and mid-amateurs.
Jay Sigel, a winner on the senior tour, has been
quoted as saying that the Cardinal Am is one of
the finest amateur tournaments in the country
and one which he wishes he had won during his
amateur career.
View Complete Tournament Information