Gene Black fired a one under par 70 to take the lead into Sunday's final round of the 2012 Austin Amateur Golf Championship. High winds pushed the scores up as players battled a three club wind for most of the day. Putting was difficult as the wind whipped players clothing, balls oscillated while sitting on the green, and players tried to factor the force of the wind into reading putts. Length of the course was also effected. Holes that played into the wind were dramatically longer. Players indicated that on holes where they normally would hit a driver and gap wedge, they were playing a four iron for their second shot.
Lakecliff Golf course, the tournament site, is in excellent condition and the bent grass greens are receptive to well struck shots, giving players something to offset the difficult wind conditions.
The AAG championship is the season ending event of the 2012 AAG points race. The top players from the points list are invited to play in the event and the field is traditionally a small one. Headed into this event Kody King leads both the open and mid-amateur division with Steve Patterson in second place in both categories. Peach Reynolds leads the Senior division, Mike Allen is second and Mark Baldree is third. See the complete rankings at the Austin Amateur Golf website.
Saturday's Scores
70 Gene Black
73 Mike Allen
74 Robert Evans
74 Michael Goldwater
75 Lee Broussard
75 Peter McGibney
75 Randy Reynolds
76 Steve Patterson
76 Jonathan Alden
76 Jerry Thorn
77 Peach Reynolds
77 Kody King
78 Steve Trafton
79 Johnny Jeffers
80 Mark Baldree
83 Matt Riley
88 Myron Jordahl
88 Jan Douglas
