Wenyi Ding (Southern Golf Association Photo)

Wenyi Ding, Lance Simpson, and Quinnton Croker are all tied at the top of the leaderboard at 12-under. 

Ding has carded rounds of 66-69-63, Simpson has carded rounds of 68-65-65, and Croker has carded rounds of 66-65-67. Ding's bogey-free 7-under 63 was the round of the day.

Ding is currently ranked No. 4 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings.

Parker Bell sits in solo fourth place after posting a 5-under 65 to get to 11-under and is one back of the leaders. 

Charles DeLong and Buck Brumlow are T5 at 10-under. 17 golfers are within four shots of the lead with 18 holes left.

According to the Southern Golf Association, the field's average score was an impressive 68.73, with 13 eagles and 194 birdies. 34 players broke par. 

The Southern Golf Association is one of the oldest—dating back to its Charter in 1902—the largest—serving approximately 500 member clubs over a 14-state area—and the most prestigious golf associations in the world.

The Southern Amateur dates back to 1902, and its Champions Roster is like reading a Who's Who of competitive golf. Leading this group is Robert T. (Bobby) Jones, Jr., who was the Southern Amateur Champion in 1917, 1920, and 1922.

Others who have won or finished in a challenging position and gone on to national and/or international prominence include Tommy Barnes, Dale Morey, Don January, Gay Brewer, Doug Sanders, Billy Joe Patton, Lew Oehmig, Hubert Green, Downing Gray, Marvin (Vinny) Giles, Lanny Wadkins, Steve Melnyk, Tom Kite, John Mahaffey, Ben Crenshaw, Gary Koch, Bill Rogers, Gil Morgan, Danny Edwards, Andy Bean, Vance Haefner, Jerry Pate, Chip Beck, David Edwards, Jay Sigel, Bob Tway, Mark Brooks, Gene Sauers, Davis Love, and more recently, Justin Leonard and Allen Doyle.