Bryson DeChambeau (left) and Will Zalatoris (Golfweek photos)
EUGENE, Ore. — Some of the best players in the nation are at or near the top of the leaderboard through three rounds of the Pacific Coast Amateur, being held this year at the historic Eugene Country Club.
The course, which will host next year's NCAA Men's National Championship, has yielded just four players to sit in red numbers through 54 holes, including the reigning NCAA individual champion — Bryson DeChambeau of SMU.
DeChambeau birdied four of his first six holes on Thursday en route to 68 on day three to join second-round leader Will Zalatoris atop the leaderboard. Zalatoris, the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur winner from Plano, Texas, shot 69 on Thursday after his 67 during round two pushed him to a one-shot lead. Now, Zalatoris and DeChambeau share the top spot with 18 holes remaining.
"It's another chance to win a great golf event and I haven't been in this position since Nationals," DeChambeau told the Pacific Coast Golf Association. "I'm looking forward to the challenge tomorrow."
The lowest score posted at Eugene C.C. thus far was a stellar 65 on Thursday from Stanford standout junior Maverick McNealy. He teed off on the 18th hole with six birdies and no bogeys to his name but surrendered his first of the day at the closing par-4. Still, the Portola Valley, Calif. native climbed to within one of the leaders and sits alone in third place heading to Friday.
The fourth player under par through three rounds is University of Oregon sophomore Aaron Wise, who made four back-nine birdies to shoot 68 and grab fourth place just two shots back.
Lurking five shots back is defending champion Corey Pereira, who has gone 1-under since shooting a two-over 72 in the first round.
Overall, nine players are within six shots of the lead, including No. 2 ranked amateur in the world Beau Hossler and recent California Amateur winner Shotaro Ban.
ABOUT EUGENE COUNTRY CLUB
Founded in 1899, Eugene Country Club is Oregon's second oldest golf club. Renovated in the late 1960's by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, Eugene Country Club has routinely been rated one of the best courses in the Pacific Northwest. The rolling, tree-lined design will be a challenge to 84 of the top-ranked amateurs in the world over the 72-hole, four-day stroke play competition. Only one player will have the opportunity to raise the Dr. Ed Updegraff trophy as overall champion at one of North America's most historic golfing events.
ABOUT THE
Pacific Coast Amateur
Although its present history only dates from
1967, the Pacific Coast
Amateur Championship's roots make it one of
the
oldest amateur
golf championships in American history. The first
tournament was
held on the links of San Francisco Golf Club at
The
Presidio, April 24-
27, 1901. Championships were held annually
through 1911, all being
conducted in California except for the 1909
championship, which was
held at Seattle Golf Club in Washington. The
Pacific Coast Amateur
then ceased to exist, only to be reconstituted at
Seattle Golf Club on
August 10-12, 1967 with the Pacific Northwest,
Northern California,
Southern California, Oregon and Arizona golf
associations
participating.
Today, 15 member Pacific Rim golf
associations comprise
the Pacific Coast Golf Association. Players can
be
invited to this 72-
hole stroke play event by their Pacific Coast G.A.
member golf
association, or as an individual.
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