Olsen re-takes Southern Am lead

THE WOODLANDS, TX – “This is where you want to be going into the final round,” said youthful Zachary Olsen, referring to his lead in the 107th Southern Amateur that winds up Saturday.

Olsen, a recent Memphis high school grad headed to Oklahoma State, shot 68 Friday in the third round for an 11-under 205 at Carlton Woods Nicklaus Course.

Olsen, the first-round leader, jumped past 2012 U.S. Amateur runner-up Michael Weaver and sentimental storyline Kevin Marsh, a 40- year-old Las Vegas businessman, when neither could break par Friday.

Weaver posted even 72 and Marsh stumbled to 76 after a ruinous triple bogey on the par four 16th, a hole he had parred the first two days. Marsh, coming off rounds of 65-68, had turned in 2-over, then got one back quickly with a birdie at the 10th and remained steady with five straight pars from 11-15.

Tied with Marsh going into that hole, Olsen ran in a 12-foot birdie for a four-shot swing.

Joey Garber, a Georgia Bulldog senior, emerged from of the pack with a 67 on Friday to second place at 207, two shots behind Olsen.

Olsen, 19, said this would be the biggest conquest of his budding career if he can hold on to win and claim the champ’s automatic berth in the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational next March in Orlando.