64 sets Macpherson's move at Dogwood

BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2010 Dogwood Invitational | Round Three | 03 Jul 2010

A sizzling third round 8-under-par 64 elevated Bryden Macpherson into contention at the Dogwood Invitational, being played at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta.

Macpherson, the dual 2009 Australian and New Zealand Amateur Stroke champion, started the third round in a tie for 29th position at 3-under-par after opening rounds of 72-69.

Today’s round of 64 sees him currently in a tie for 8th position moving into the final day six strokes from overnight leader, Andrew Yun, after the American carded a third round even par 72 to be at 16-under-par.

Only yesterday Macpherson, a Freshman at the University of Georgia, was commenting that he needed to produce a low score to challenge for the tournament and that he was feeling it was just a matter of being patient on the course and a round would follow.

“I feel like my game is close to a low number,” he said yesterday.

Macpherson today displayed the precision style of golf that he’s known for, opening with a 3-under-par, 33, on the front nine and storming home with a closing nine of 5-under-par 31, that included five birdies on the last six holes. There was also a lot of patience and discipline demonstrated in his game as well.

“I played really well coming in,” said Macpherson.

“Yeh, the game is feeling good enough, so I can hopefully reproduce the same tomorrow. I’m hoping for some tough conditions, tough pins and the like.”

As to the six stroke deficit and whether that can be claimed, Macpherson will adopt the same strategy as he did out on the course today.

“I need little bit of luck to go my way and to stay patient and hopefully I should be able to make up the difference or at least get close.”

Jason Scrivener fired a third round 2-under-par, 70, to be currently in a tie for 19th position and the next best placed Australian after moving ten places following today’s round.

Last week Scrivener finished the best of the Australians in 17th position in the Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rhode Island. Scrivener’s form continues to improve here in the US and its just a matter of time before the Western Australian challenges for a main US amateur title.

Kalem Richardson, who found his straps yesterday with his 5-under-par second round, the fourth lowest score for the day, followed with a third round of 73 to also be in a tie for 19th position with Scrivener who are both at 5-under-par.

Kieran Pratt and Ryan McCarthy are currently in a tie for 29th position at 4-under-par with scores of 70-69-73 and 68-74-70 respectively, with Tim Hart being unable to capitalise on his opening round of 67, finding himself in a tie for 35th at 3-under-par after rounds of 72-74.

Four of the ten Australians competing at the Dogwood missed the cut, Jordan Sherratt, Brendan Smith, Luke Bleumink and Mitch Krywulycz, which came in at 3-under-par.