Collin Morikawa takes 54-hole Northeast Amateur lead

RUMFORD, Rhode Island (June 23, 2017) -- As the sun begins to set on Wannamoisett Country Club, the leaderboard shows two players starting to separate themselves from the pack with one round left to play. “It’s really hard to get yourself to the top of the leaderboard," said a very modest Collin Morikawa. "I’m happy with my play, and I’m happy where I’m at.” Last week as defending champ, Morikawa finished tied after 72-holes at the Sunnehanna Amateur in Pennsylvania before losing in a playoff to a very hot Brayden Thornberry. He is entering Saturday’s final round in the lead once again after posting 66 on the par 69 Wannamoisett CC layout. He's alone at 12-under-par, trailed closely by his good friend, Doug Ghim. Morikawa entered the day one shot off the lead at 9-under-par. He began his round steadily, making pars on the first four holes, with his first of five birdies coming on the par-4 4th hole. By the tenth hole, Morikawa was holding steady at 9-under-par, on the hardest scoring day so far this week. His bogey on the 10th seemed to wake him up a bit as he proceeded to birdie the 11th, 13th, and 14th holes to snatch the lead. Morikawa would play steadily from then on, making pars from the 15th in to keep his 54-hole total at 12-under-par. “I think Wannamoisett showed its teeth today,” offered Doug Ghim regarding the conditions on Friday. The Texas Longhorn is Morikawa’s closest pursuer at 11-under-par. Both entered the day at 9-under-par. Like Morikawa, Ghim also carded two bogeys today. Amazingly, Ghim's bogey on the 8th today was his first for the entire tournament. That’s right, Ghim was able to play 43-straight holes at a very tight Wannamoisett track without making a bogey. Not too shabby for an amateur, right? He made his second bogey on the 18th, falling short of a share of the lead. Ghim was able to make birdies on hole Nos. 5, 10, 13, and 17. It's going to be a great closing round on Saturday in Rhode Island, and AmateurGolf.com will be there to provide you with video highlights as One Epic Summer, week three concludes.