Kelly Kraft

Kelly Kraft shot a 2 under par, 69, in the third round of the SBIA and is clinging to a one shot lead over France’s Gary Stal heading into the final day.

It looked as though Kraft was getting ready to separate himself from the field after hitting it close on the par 3, 14th, to get to -7 overall and -4 on the day. He picked up two shots on his playing partners, France’s Gary Stal and Kenny Subregis, on 14 and was starting to make some room between himself and the young men chasing him.

A couple of bogeys down the stretch and some inspired golf by the Frenchmen turned the tables a bit and makes the final round tomorrow much more interesting. The reigning US Am champ, Kraft, will be trying to fight off the best amateurs France has to offer in the final two groups.

Memphis, TN’s Jonathan Fly and France’s Clement Sordet shot the low rounds of the day at Miami Beach Golf Club with 68. Fly (71-76-68) played himself into the top ten and currently sits eight shots behind Kraft. Sordet (71-71-68) and fellow countryman Subregis (68-72-70) are three off the lead while steady Gary Stal (69-70-69) is right behind the leader at -4.

Local youngster Kristian Caparros, only 15 years old, had people around the golf course buzzing after making birdie on three and nearly making deuce on 5, a hole that has been converted from a par 5 to a par 4 for the event. The back nine, however, was playing long and Caparros’ putter wasn’t responding. He finished with 73 and trails the leader by nine shots.

Only five players are under par after the first three rounds at the difficult Miami Beach courses. Kraft (-5), Stal (-4), Sordet (-2), Subregis (-2), and Will Collins (-1).

Kraft has already won three amateur events this year and hopes to close 2011 out in style with a win at the South Beach International Am tomorrow.

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