Georgia Amateur: Gann takes lead into final round

MACON, Ga. (July 12, 2014) -- Stan Gann, Jr., of Bonaire posted a 4-under-par 66 on Saturday and will begin the final round of the Georgia Amateur Championship with a three-stroke advantage. The 93rd playing of the annual state championship is taking place at Idle Hour Club, July 10-13.

Gann began round three two strokes behind 36-hole leader Kelby Burton of Evans, and will begin the final round three strokes ahead of Burton. Gann's third round included birdies on five, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 18, and bogeys on four and 17, giving him the 66 on the day. His 54-hole total is 6- under-par 204 (71-67-66). Burton posted a 1- over-par 71 in round three with birdies on three and eight, and bogeys on seven, 15 and 17. His rounds of 70-66-71 give him a 3-under-par 207 total.

Three players will begin the final round at 2- under-par 208, including Robert Mize of Columbus (69-72-67), Matt Mierzejewski of Suwanee (69-70-69) and 18-hole leader Trey Rule of Eatonton (65-74-69). Carter Collins of Statesboro, the associate head coach of Georgia Southern University's golf program, is 1-under-par 209 (70-69-70) and Brad Davis of Lawrenceville is even-par 210 (69-70-71). All other players are over-par.

Two players posted the low score of the day of 66. The leader, Gann, and Sepp Straka of Valdosta, who has a 54-hole total of 1-over- par 211 (70-75-66).

There are two former Georgia Amateur champions playing. David Noll, Jr., of Dalton won in 2003 at Pinetree Country Club and in 2011 at Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta. Bill Brown III of Dublin earned his state championship in 2006 at Coosa Country Club in Rome. Noll enters the final round at 11-over-par 221 (72-76-73) and Brown is 9-over-par 219 (74-73-72).

Idle Hour's reigning club champion, John Walker IV of Macon, is 5-over-par 215 (73-68-74).

After 36-holes of play, 77 players made the cut at 8-over-par 148 and better. Of those players who advanced to the weekend, nine had 36- hole scores in red numbers. Of those nine, only Fisk scored in the 60's each of the first two rounds.

The Georgia Amateur Championship is conducted by the Georgia State Golf Association and brings together 144 of the state's best male amateur golfers for the prestigious state title first won by 14-year-old Bobby Jones in 1916. Idle Hour Club is hosting this event for the record eighth time, and first since 2008. This week Idle Hour is playing to 6,727 yards and a par 70.

The Championship format is 72 holes of stroke play over four days. After 36 holes of play, the field has been cut to the low 70 players and ties and anyone within 10 strokes of the leader.