Stanton Schorr (Mercer photo)

Schorr, playing on his home course, started the day four shots back of leader Matt Liston (Louisville, KY), and was treading water at even par through seven holes. But a birdie two at the drop-shot par-3 8th got him going. Another followed at the 9th, and he got two more at the short par fours 11 and 12.

Another two at the 16th was followed by a birdie at the uphill par-4 17th (after bogeys there in rounds one and two), and a closing par gave him a 6-under 64. Schorr is at 8-under-par 202 through three rounds.

Liston, a rising junior at the University of Kentucky, stumbled at the start of his round with two early bogeys, but steadied himself, and when he too birdied the 17th, he got into red figures for the day and shot his second straight 1-under 69. He is the only player in the field to shoot under par in all three rounds.

University of North Florida rising senior Jack Comstock (Jacksonville, FL) shot a 67 to get into solo third place at 6-under 204.

Jamie Mist (Hayling Island, England), who co-led after a first-round 65, was sputtering along with three bogeys in his last seven holes when he hit the shot of the tournament so far, making an ace at the 155-yard 16th hole. The shot rescued his round and kept him within reach of the lead, with a 69 putting him just three shots back at 5 under.

He is tied for fourth with Nolan Miller, another Mercer Bear from Columbus. Miller posted a 67 on Friday.

After the course toughened up for round two, the lower scoring returned on Friday, with 18 under-par rounds. In all, 11 players enter the final round under par.

The 54-hole cut fell at 10-over 220, with 60 players advancing to the final round on Saturday.