Patrick Christovich leads Birmingham National Invite

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (June 2, 2012) -- Patrick Christovich of New Orleans has a four stroke lead over 3-time champion Greg Kennedy of Duluth, Georgia heading into the final round of the Birmingham National Invitational. Christovich, 31, posted rounds of 65 and 70. Earlier this season he finished 2nd in the Coleman Invitational at Seminole; in 2011 he won the Lousiana Mid-Amateur and qualified for the US Amateur, where he was 11th in stroke play qualifying before being eliminated in the first round of match play. As for Kennedy, in addition to three Birmingham National Invitational titles (including 2011) he has played in 7 U.S. Amateurs, 3 U.S. Mid-Amateurs, and 4 British Amateurs and been a part of teams that have won the prestigious J.R. Williams Invitational Four Ball (Oak Hill) and Anderson Memorial Four Ball (Winged Foot). Two players, Brett Boner and Mayson Petty (both of Charlotte, N.C.) are tied at 141, while Tim Jackson of Tennessee is lurking 8 back at 143.