Wes Gosselin
(UT-Chattanooga Athletics Photo)
JONESBOROUGH, TN (August 11, 2016) -- Wes Gosselin continued his stellar play at the Tennessee State Amateur as he moved to 17-under and extended his lead to 11-strokes. Heading into the final round the UT-Chattanooga senior not only has a championship in his sights, but also the all-time scoring record set by Peyton Sliger just a year ago when he won and finished 19-under-par.
Gosselin also has a chance to set a new margin of victory record, the previous largest margin was eight-strokes in 2004 by Andrew Pratt.
Following rounds of 67-64 at the Blackthorn Club, Gosselin put together a third round 4-under 68. Gosselin came blazing out of the gates on Thursday and by the time he made the turn he was 5-under for the day and at 18-under.
The round began with birdies on the first two holes, moving Gosselin to 15-under. Following a par on the 3rd Gosselin reached 17-under with an eagle on the par-5 4th. He would then move to 18-under as he completed the front nine birdie-bogey-birdie.
Still at 18-under, Gosselin reached 19-under as he rolled in a birdie on No. 13. However, for the first time all week Gosselin faltered and bogeyed three of the next four holes before birdieing the closing hole to post 17-under.
In the final round, Gosselin will play with Clemson commit William Nottingham, the Tennessee State Match Play winner who is 6-under and in second place and Tennessee Junior Amateur winner Taylor Davis. Currently Davis is in third place and 3-under.
Nottingham played very well on Thursday firing a 5-under 67. On the day Nottingham birdied six and bogeyed one. Nottingham played a bogey-free 4-under 32 back nine.
Phillip Lee and Ole Miss senior Ben Wolcott are tied for fourth at 2-under.
Wolcott shot the round of the day with a 6-under 66. The day began with Wolcott 4-over but following a 6-under 30 on the front nine he was able to move into red figures. Wolcott was even-par on the back and finished his round with eight birdies and two bogeys.
ROUND TWO RECAP
It was more of the same stellar play from Wes Gosselin at the Tennessee State Amateur on Wednesday. One day after opening with a 5-under 67 Gosselin shot an 8-under 64 to move to 13-under and a 10-stroke lead.
Gosselin started on the 10th hole and after two pars birdied Nos. 12-16 in a row to reach 10-under. On the next hole Gosselin had his only blemish of the day, a double-bogey on the 17th hole. However, Gosselin did not let that slip up ruin his day and he quickly got a shot back with a birdie on the 18th. As Gosselin made the turn his was 4-under thanks to a 32.
Now on the front nine Gosselin continued to keep the peddle to the mettle and he rolled in birdies on 1,4, 7 and 8 for a matching 4-under 32.
With two rounds in the books, Gosselin his now carded 16 birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey.
Tim Jackson and Taylor Davis are tied for second at 3-under.
Jackson, the George L. Coleman Senior Invitational winner this year, shot the second best round of the day with a bogey-free 6-under 66. Jackson began the day 3-over.
Chris Baker is 2-under in fourth while three others are tied for fifth at 1-under.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Wes Gosselin took the opening day lead at the Tennessee State Amateur with a 5-under 67. Gosselin is one of just 10 players under-par after the first round.
The UT-Chattanooga senior got off to a great start and was 6-under through his first 14-holes. Gosselin rolled in birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 7, 11, 13 and 14 while only dropping a stroke on the 15th.
Jack Rhea and Connor McKay will begin the second round of the 72-hole event tied for second following 3-under 69's.
Rhea began his round on the 10th hole and got into red figures just one hole in with the first of his five birdies, against two bogeys.
McKay had a back and forth front nine. After birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 he was 2-under, only to bogey 6 and 7 to fall back to even-par. Birdies on holes 8, 10 and 14 brought McKay well back into red figures.
Three players; Goodman Rudolph, Lee Whitehead and Taylor Davis (Lee University) are tied for fourth at 2-under.
View results for Tennessee State Amateur
ABOUT THE
Tennessee State Amateur
Applications are open to amateurs who possess an
active
USGA/GHIN Handicap Index of 8.0 or less from a
TGA member club or
course. An 18-hole stroke play qualifier is required
for
those who do not meet the exemption criteria.
Format
consists of 72 holes of stroke play with a cut to the
low
60 and ties after the second round.
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