Nick Heinen watches a shot during third round play
(Southwestern Amateur Photo)
SCOTSDALE, AZ (June 17, 2016) -- Oklahoma State redshirt sophomore Nick Heinen matched the round of the Southwestern Amateur and moved to the top of the leaderboard. Heinen, 11-under, started the third round two-strokes behind but moved in front with a 6-under 64 on the Cochise Course at Desert Mountain Club. He will carry a one-stroke lead into the final round over 36-hole leader PJ Samiere and Sam Stevens.
The round started innocently enough for Heinen with three pars and a bogey on the first four holes. However, Heinen quickly kicked things into gear with back-to-back birdies on 5 and 6 and consecutive birdies on 8 and 9 to turn in 3-under 32.
The hot play continued on the backside with a birdie on No. 12. Heinen did drop a stroke on the 13th but followed the bogey up with an eagle on the par-5 13th to move to 10-under for the tournament. On the 17th Heinen lost another stroke with his third bogey of the day but again he responded with an eagle, this time on the par-5 closing hole.
PJ Samiere had an up and down third day and ended up with a 3-under 67. The San Diego State junior carded four bogeys while also carding five birdies and like Heinen an 18th hole eagle.
Sam Stevens, Heinen's Oklahoma State teammate, matched his teammates tournament best 6-under 64 on Friday. Stevens, a junior, tallied seven birdies and one bogey during the third round. His birdies came on holes 2, 4, 5, 8, 12, 15 and 18.
Braden Bailey (Baylor) and first round leader Derek Bayley (Washington State) are both 8-under and tied for fourth.
ROUND TWO RECAP
Playing on the Desert Mountain Club Geronimo Course Paul Samiere fired a second round 4-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead at the Southwestern Amateur. Samiere leads a quartet of golfers at 5-under and in second place.
Following a Wednesday 3-under 67 on the Cochise Samiere, a junior at San Diego State, began his second round on the 10th and got off to a quick start with birdies on 11, 12 and two more on 14, 17. With the four birdies Samiere turned in 4-under 31.
On his final nine the Aztec product reached 8-under for the tournament with a birdie on the 1st before giving the shot back with his lone bogey of the round on No. 4.
Braden Bailey (Baylor), Nick Heinen (Oklahoma State), Hayden Wood (Oklahoma State) and Colton Yates (Colorado State) are the four currently sharing second place at 5-under. Three additional golfers, including first round leader Derek Bayley (Washington State) are tied for sixth at 4-under.
Bayley shot a 1-over 71 on the Geronimo Course in the second round after carding a 5-under 65 in Wednesday's first round.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Derek Bayley opened up the 101st playing of the Southwestern Amateur with 5-under 65 and leads by one over two others at 4-under. It will be crowded leaderboard when the second round begins on Thursday, presently there are 22 players under-par and within four-strokes of the lead.
Playing on the Desert Mountain Club's Cochise Course, Bayley, a junior at Washington State, birdied three of his first four holes to start the day 3-under. On the 7th hole Bayley rolled in his fourth birdie of the side to move to 4-under. The 2012 Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Public Links champion ended up with a front nine 3-under 32 following a bogey on No. 9.
The homeward nine was a similar story for Bayley as he carded three birdies and a bogey for a 2-under 33.
David Ricciardelli and Oklahoma State's Hayden Wood both share second place after opening in 4-under 66. Each player had comparable scorecards with six birdies and two bogeys to their name.
Six players are currently only two shots behind and tied for fourth at 3-under.
U.S. Amateur Four-Ball winner and SMU senior Andrew Buchanan is 2-under and tied for 10th.
ABOUT THE
Southwestern Amateur
72-hole stroke play championship for national-level
amateurs with a handicap index of
1.4 or better. After 36 holes, the field will be
cut to the low 36 and ties. The
SWGA Selection Committee will select players
to
compete based upon
exemptions, playing resume and rankings.
The SWGA reserves the right to invite
amateurs of national and international
reputation, as well as other amateurs "of
note", to enter into the tournament.
Applicants are urged to submit their entries
with golf resumes of accomplishment in
major tournaments and other competitive
record
information.
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