Michael La Sasso of Raleigh, N.C., and Miles Russell of Jacksonville, Fla., lead the 2023 South Beach International Amateur at Normandy Shores Golf Course and Miami Beach Golf Club.
The winds were strong again, consistently blowing 15 to 20 miles per hour and gusts of 25 to 30 miles per hour and this was easily the hardest scoring day of the week so far.
La Sasso shot a 1-over 72, while Russell followed up his 10-under 60, which tied the Normandy Shores Golf Course course record, set by PGA Tour star Adam Svensson. Russell recorded 10 birdies through the first 16 holes and parred Holes Nos. 17 and 18 to just miss out on breaking 60.
Walker Cupper Ben James of Virginia shot a 5-under 66, and his third-round moved him just one stroke back of the leaders at 9-under. James eagled the par-4 No. 7, sinking his wedge shot from 75 yards out. Tied with James in third place is Mats Ege of East Tennessee State.
Ege continued his solid play with a 2-under par 69.
Jay Mendell of LSU shot Thursday’s best round. Mendell fired a 6-under 65 on a day when only 17 out of 88 players broke par. Mendell’s round includes nine birdies, including five straight on Holes Nos. 11 thru 15.