CARBONDALE, Colo. (Sept. 20, 2014) — If Keith Humerickhouse is to complete an unprecedented five-peat in the Colorado Mid-Amateur Championship, he'll have to rally in the final round.
The player from Glenwood Springs Golf Club is trying to become the first player in the 114-year history of CGA championships to win five consecutive titles in the same CGA event. But on Saturday he lost the lead in the Mid-Amateur and trails by four strokes heading into Sunday's final round at River Valley Ranch Golf Club in Carbondale.
Zack Neiditz of Aspen Golf Club shot the lowest round of the tournament so far -- a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 on Saturday -- to grab the 36-hole lead in the event limited to players 25 and older. Neiditz stands at 6-under 138.
Christopher Thayer of Bear Creek Golf Club, who qualified for last year's U.S. Amateur, is a shot back of Neiditz after posting a 69 on Saturday. Thayer used an eagle and three birdies on his back nine (the front side at River Valley Ranch) to post a 5-under 31 there on Saturday. He overcame going 4 over par in four holes starting on No. 15.
Three more strokes back of Neiditz are Humerickhouse and Tristan Sanders of CommonGround Golf Course. Humerickhouse made three birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in his 74 on Saturday. Sanders, who has qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur two of the last four years, made an eagle Saturday and carded his second straight 71.
Sanders will be paired with Neiditz and Thayer for Sunday's final round.
The field was cut to the low 40 players and ties after Saturday's second round, with the players at 154 or better advancing to Sunday.
Neiditz takes lead from Humerickhouse at Colorado Mid-Amateur
Zack Neiditz overtakes four-time defending champion Keith Humerickhouse to lead after the second round