Paterson And Northington Top Leaderboard In Men’s City Championship

The third round of the 2014 Men’s City Championship was played at Grey Rock Golf Club.  It marks the first time the course had been included in the City Championship rotation.  Complicated by shifting winds, it proved to be a stern test for the field.

Steve Paterson held steady with a third round 72 while defending champion Daniel Northington shot 70 to catch him.  Both players are tied at eight under par headed into the final round of the Austin Men’s City Championship.

photo(3)Paterson (left) started the day at eight under par, birdied the par five second before suffering a double bogey on the par three third.  He birdied 8 and parred nine to turn in even par 36.  He bogeyed 12, birdied 14 and 17 before a closing bogey on 18.  He has played well this season, winning the Hill Country Amateur with a dominate performance, followed by a win at the Central Texas amateur, where he won in a playoff over Chris Hartenstein.  Paterson is seeking his first city championship, although he has come close several times.

northingtonNorthington (right) made an early charge with an eagle on the par five second.  He combined two birdies with two bogeys to make the turn in two under 34.  The back nine was steady with all pars until a birdie on 17 and a bogey on 18.  He has played little tournament golf this summer and is concentrating on finishing his degree.  Evidently he is playing enough.  He has the opportunity to become the first player to win back to back Men’s City Championships since Colin Mayer won in 2008-9.

Mayer, along with Brian Noonan, Ed Brooks, Ray Kizer, Tom Miller Jr, Buck Luce and W.R. Long are the only players to win back to back City Championships.  Ben Crenshaw is the only player to win three consecutive titles.  Roane Puett tops the championship list with five titles over four decades.  Click here to see the list of former champions.

Robert Evans shot 70 to move into position to challenge for the title as he is at five under and just three shots back. His day included three birdies, three bogeys and an eagle at the par five 17th.

Jordan Sanders shot 73 and is at four under par, followed by Chris Benestante at three under.  Hagen Fell and Jonathan Alden are at two under.

Grey Rock took it’s toll on the majority of players.  Northington, Evans, Austin Cotton and Tony Underwood were the only players to record sub par scores.  They all shot 70. Only four players matched par.  The course was in good condition but the tricky winds made club selection difficult and confused the players as it changed direction and velocity.

Click here for the full leaderboard, tee times and tournament information.

Follow the final round action on the free GolfAustin.Org app for I-Phones and Android devices.  Download it from your app store.

 

 

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