Related: VIDEO: O'Kelley Takes the 36-Hole Georgia Amateur Lead
Connelly holds a one stroke advantage over Connor Coffee of Peachtree City, who finished at 10-under-par 203 (69-69-65). Connelly, who played golf at Mercer University in Macon, started fast with an eagle on the 483-yard par 5 second hole. He added birdies on three, seven, nine and made four-straight on 11, 12, 13, 14, with bogeys on six and 17. Coffee, a 19-year-old rising sophomore at Kennesaw State University, recorded a bogey-free round with six birdies.
Nathan Mallonee of Lexington (69-70-67) and Jared O'Kelley of Canton (67-68-71) are tied at 7-under-par 206 and will begin the final round four strokes off the lead. Steven Fisk of Stockbridge (71-68-68) and Jacob Bayer of Lawrenceville (69-67-71) round out the top 5 heading into Sunday at 6-under-par 207.
After 36 holes of play, 71 players made the cut at 6-over-par 148 and better.
Entries were open to male amateur golfers who are GSGA members and residents of the state of Georgia. The field of 144 players compete over 72 holes of individual stroke play with the field cut to the top 70 and ties now that 36 holes have been played.