Gordon Brixi (inset) has a four shot lead with one round to go at Laurel Hill GC
LORTON, VA (September 23, 2017) - Gordan Brixi, one of four 15-year-olds in the field for the 111th Middle Atlantic Amateur championship, used a second straight 4-under-par 67 to break
away from his closest challengers and open a four-shot lead at Laurel Hill Golf
Club in Lorton, Va., September 23. Brixi, from Potomac, Md., fired a front-nine
31 to highlight his card, and finished with a 54-hole total of 206.
Heading into the final round, his pursuers include second-round leader Michael Brennan, Leesburg, Va., another of the talented 15-year-olds, who slipped back
to 74 after opening 69-67, and Scott Shingler, who completed a trifecta with his
third successive 70 for 210 and a tie with Brennan. Brennan’s yo-yo round
included two birdies and two unplayables.
Related: Middle Atlantic Amateur: 15-Year-Old Leads By Three Shots
Jon Moles, Frederick, Md., was tied with Shingler at the start of the round, but
could not keep up with playing companions Brixi and Brennan, falling away to 78
and 218.
From the top three, it was four strokes back to Matthew Feinstein, 17, from
McLean, Va., who shot 71 to move into fourth at 214, followed by Kevin Johnson, also 17,
Bethesda, Md., with a 72 for 215.
Brixi took charge of the 6,880-yard, par 36-35–71 layout in southern Fairfax
County with his front nine play, as he opened birdie-birdie and chipped in for
another at the fourth. He took care of the two par-5’s with birds, then moved to
the back nine, where he played the first six holes even with two birdies, two
bogeys before closing the round with a bogey for 31-36.
“I feel good about my round, but there’s always room for improvement,” he said.
Brixi, who hits his driver about 285 yards, said he hit most of the fairways and
greens, where his birdie putts were all from inside 10-12 feet. His best
competitive score is 66.
After eight rounds in the 60’s the first two days, there were only two the
third. John Brundred, from Congressional CC, joined Brixi with a 68, following
78-71 for a three-day total of 217. His tour included an eagle-3 at the 525-yard
fifth, plus four birdies and three bogeys. He ended it with a birdie at the 562-yard 18th.
Final-round tee times will be from 8 a.m. to 11:29 a.m., with the leaders going last.
ABOUT THE
Middle Atlantic Amateur
54-hole stroke play championship. The field is cut to
the low 60 scores and ties after round two. Open to
members of member clubs of the Middle Atlantic
Golf
Association, and by invitation.
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