The golf course was toughened for the third round of the 98th Georgia Amateur Championship on Saturday, but that failed to slow Marietta’s Jonathan Keppler.
The senior from Florida State shot a 2-over 74 and holds the 54-hole lead at 8-under 208 at Ansley Golf Club – Settindown Creek in Roswell. He enjoys a two-shot lead over Ben Carr of Columbus, a sophomore at Georgia Southern, who shot 73 on Saturday.
Several tees were extended to their maximum length by the Georgia State Golf Association, and most of the hole locations were in areas that made birdies nearly impossible and par an adventure. As a result, only three players in the 72-man field were able to break par.
Keppler opened the tournament with rounds of 68-66 and had another steady round Saturday in his quest to become the first player from Cobb County to win the title since Bill Bergin in 1981.
“It was all right, steady,” he said. “I hung in there and gave myself a chance. Not as many putts dropped, but I can’t complain.”
Carr picked up a shot on the final hole when Keppler made a bogey. Carr made par the last six holes, but it wasn’t easy – especially the final three. He two-putted from 100 feet at No. 16, got up-and-down at No. 17 and was able to save par from a hazard on 18.
Grant Crowell of Athens, a junior at North Georgia University, and Spencer Ball of Suwanee, a senior at Mercer, are tied for third at 4-under 212. Both shot 72 on Saturday.
Crowell has been trending up since January, when was able to play again after enduring two surgeries on his left elbow. He has tried to play more conservatively off the tee and not take risky chances.
“Just to make sure I’m not making any big numbers, nothing more than a bogey, which is huge,” Crowell said. “Birdies out here are sometimes hard to come by.”
Nic Cassidy of Alpharetta, a junior at Georgia, shot 70 – the low round of the day – and is alone in fifth at 3-under 213.
“I’ve been hitting the ball really well this week and got the putter rolling on the back nine,” Cassidy said. “If I keep hitting like I do and get off to a good start, maybe put some pressure on the leaderboard. Jonathan has pretty relaxed up there with a couple-shots lead. If I can make a few birdies in the morning, maybe I can make a run at the top.”
First-round leader Andy Mao of Johns Creek, a freshman at Georgia Tech, and Timothy Schaetzel of Atlanta, are tied for sixth at 2 under. Schatzel, the club champion at Settindown, is the tournament’s low mid-amateur competitor.
Defending champion Brett Barron of Suwanee, who also plays at Georgia Southern, shot 72 and is tied for 16th at 2-over 218.
The final five groups were on the course when lightning was sighted in the area and forced a two-hour delay.
Keppler began the week with high hopes. He has worked hard to his putting game, which started to click this week at Settindown.
“I’ve been hitting it well most of the summer,” he said. “I thought I had a chance to be up there and it’s nice to do it. It’s one thing to think it, it’s another thing do it.”
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