Starting on hole No. 13, Spires reached the par- 5 in two shots for a two-putt birdie. His seventh and final birdie came on the 189-yard par-3 seventh hole, by virtue of hitting a six-iron to four-feet. "I was knocking it close all day," said 22-year-old Spires. "It was nice, there wasn't too much stress."
Elon University senior Troy Beaver of Salisbury, N.C. is alone is second place at 5-under 67. Twelve total men posted under-par rounds on Wednesday.
Jessica Spicer of Durham, N.C., a freshman at Virginia Tech University, mixed two birdies and two bogeys to card an even-par 72 to lead the Women's Division. Playing in her first Carolinas Young Amateur, it took awhile for Spicer's putter to get used to the Magnolia Course. On No. 10, a 25-foot par putt added to her confidence. "It's nice to play again with girls I grew up playing junior golf against," said 19-year-old Spicer, who was the 2014 Carolinas Junior Girls' Player of the Year.
2013 and 2015 Women's Division champion Sarah Bae of Pinehurst, N.C. trails Spicer by one- stroke along with 2014 South Carolina Junior Match Play champ Morgan Cox of Easley, S.C. and Reona Hirai of Summerville, S.C. at 1-over-par 73.
Thursday's final round will begin with a 11:00 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament format is 36- holes of stroke play for male and female amateur golfers ages 18 to 25 from North Carolina or South Carolina who have finished high school and have a current USGA handicap Index at a CGA member club.
