Devon Bling jumps into the lead at the Pacific Coast Amateur
Courtesy of Pacific Coast Amateur
Another day, another leader at the Pacific Coast Amateur.
Devon Bling carded a 9-under 62 on Thursday to take a three-stroke lead over
Walker Lee heading into the Friday’s final round at Chambers Bay. The recent UCLA graduate, who turned in rounds of 71-66 to start the tournament, currently sits at 14-under 199 with one round remaining.
Bling entered the day four-shots off the lead and went on absolute tear to rocket up to the top of the leaderboard. “I missed one fairway and one green,” said Bling, “I stuffed it inside five feet probably eight times today.”
Bling made four birdies on his first nine holes and turned in 33. He collected six birdies on his inward nine to come home in 29 for a score of 62.
“I hit my irons incredibly well and hit my spots every single time, that was the key,” said Bling. “I’ve been working on a few things with my swing and today I felt totally comfortable.”
After today’s performance, Bling is 10-under par on the back nine at Chambers Bay over the last two days.
Lee, who recently wrapped up his collegiate career at Texas A&M, made a nice move up the leaderboard on Thursday with a third round 63 and heads into the final round at 11-under 202, three strokes off the pace. Lee also blistered the back nine at Chambers Bay with six birdies, including four on the last five holes, to match Bling’s 29.
Sam Choi and first round leader
Gavin Cohen are four back at 1-under 203.
Joe Highsmith, the bucket hat-wearing lefthander from Pepperdine, moved into fifth place at 9-under after signing for a 65 on Thursday.
Second round leader
Dylan Menante, who shot a 64 on Wednesday, struggled to a third round 74 and is now tied for ninth at 6-under 207.
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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