Fulton holds on for Rice Planters Amateur victory

Even as his pursuers mounted a charge in the final round of the Rice Planters Amateur, Austin Fulton of Mississippi State held on for a three-shot victory. After gradually pulling away with three opening rounds in the 60s, Fulton fired a final-round even-par 72 at Snee Farm Country Club and maintained his spot atop the leaderboard.

Fulton had four birdies over his front nine and one bogey to make the turn at 3-under 33. He closed in 39 for his even-par round. Fulton was 12 under for the week.

A year ago, Fulton was 17th at this event. On the summer amateur circuit in 2017, Fulton finished runner-up at the Dogwood Invitational.

Behind Fulton, Andrew Gibson had a final-round 68 – his best round of the week – for a 9-under total and solo second. Gibson plays for the University of Houston.

Four men tied for third at 8 under, including Kerry Mountcastle, Johnson Holliday, Ben Car (last week’s Southeastern Amateur winner) and Christian Salzer.

THIRD-ROUND RECAP

After another sub-70 round at Snee Farm Country Club in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Austin Fulton remains in the lead at the Rice Planters Amateur. Fulton, who recently completed his sophomore season at Mississippi State, had put together three rounds in the 60s for a 12-under total and a four-shot lead.

Fulton’s third-round 69 was his highest of the week, but still enough to keep him comfortably in first. He had six birdies and three bogeys.

Behind him, Christian Salzer had a 4-under 68 to get to 8 under and climb to second. Salzer will be a senior at North Carolina State this season. Zinyo Garcia of Australia and Ben Carr, who plays for Georgia Southern, remain tied at 7 under. They share third.

SECOND-ROUND RECAP

Austin Fulton has had few mistakes so far at the Rice Planters Amateur. He was the picture of consistency on Thursday as he cruised to a bogey-free 4-under 68 at Snee Farm Country Club in Mount Pleasant, S.C. With that round, Fulton made it nearly impossible for his chasers to catch up.

Through 36 holes, Fulton leads by two shots. He is 9 under for the tournament.

Fulton recently completed his sophomore season at Mississippi State, and made three starts with the team. He finished 17th at this event a year ago.

Behind Fulton, Ben Carr and Zinyo Garcia are both tied for second at 7 under. Carr, of course, is coming off a win last week at the Southeastern Amateur that included a second-round 61. He got similarly hot on Thursday but for a shorter stretch of holes. Carr, who plays for Georgia Southern, made four birdies from Nos. 12-16 on his way to a second-round 68.

For his part, Garcia had a second-round 67 that was the round of the day. The Australian has played the Dogwood Invitational (MC) and the Monroe Invitational (30th) already this summer after competing in Australia all winter. He did the full U.S. summer circuit a year ago, too, with his best finish a runner-up at the Northern Amateur.

Andrew Gibson had rounds of 69-70 and is fourth at 5 under. Six players are tied for fifth at 4 under.