Bryce Hendrix (Kyle Dawson/Aiken Standard photo)

The UNCG rising senior birdied five holes in a row starting at the 3rd, then added another at the par-3 9th to turn at 6-under 28. Two more birdies to start the back nine meant that he was 8 under through 11 holes which, on the par-70 course at Palmetto Golf Club, meant that he was on 59 watch.

He cooled off somewhat coming in, mixing two birdies and two bogeys for an 8-under 62 that vaulted him into the 54-hole lead by two shots at the 43rd Palmetto Amateur.

The brilliance of his round was underscored given that only 11 players broke par on the day, and the next lowest score was five shots higher.

"The putter just got really hot," he said to the Aiken Standard. "I mean, I didn't really have too many putts that were really close, maybe two or three that were within 5 feet. Just made a lot of 20-footers today, which is nice."

Hendrix is at 9-under 201 through three rounds, two shots ahead of former Wofford golfer Jeremy Grab (Charleston, SC), who carded a 68.

Alex Hamilton (Spartanburg, SC), the Wofford College coach playing in his first Palmetto Amateur in 13 years, and who shot a 62 in round one, fell out of the lead with a 73 on Friday. The other co-leader Ryan Knop (Pleasanton, CA) of Auburn did the same. The two share third place at 4-under 206 with Tripp French (Camden, SC), who recently graduated from Dayton University.

Related: Wofford Coach Hamilton Shares Midway Lead at Palmetto Am

French had the second-low round of the day, a 3-under 67.

The defending champion Bobby Bai (Lake Mary, FL) had put himself in contention for a repeat with a second-round 65, but could only manage a 71 on Friday and is solo sixth at 3-under 207.