Hart makes move at Players Amateur

BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2010 Players Amateur | Round Three | 11 Jul 2010

Tim Hart has fired rounds of 74-69-72 to be at 1-under-par and in a tie for 8th position at The Players Amateur in Bluffton, South Carolina

Hart is currently the best of the Aussies, seven shots behind leader, James White, after the American carded rounds of 67-66-75 to be at 8-under-par, a stoke ahead of Kevin Tway at 7-under-par and Brooks Koepha at 6-under-par.

White has held the lead since the first day at The Players and is in search of his maiden US Amateur event. White was recently honoured in the 2010 All-ACC Academic Team for his standout performances for Georgia Tech in the US Collegiate season.

The American’s overnight six stroke margin was reduced to one as a result of five bogies on his way to a 3-over-par 75, with two birdies saving his score card and his control on the lead.

White’s round was hampered by a two-hour delay that proved to the first thing to slow him down. When he returned to the course following the delay, White finished his round with three bogeys on the final four holes.

The chase will be a lot more closer during today’s final round and Hart is ready to take advantage with what’s on offer after White’s 3rd round implosion and his six positional move up the leader board.

“It’s about staying patient on a course like that,” says Hart about the West Course at Belfair Golf Club.

“It’s very difficult to get aggressive, but thats what I have to do. Today was a bit of a roller-coaster ride with plenty of birdies & bogeys. I managed to scrap a 72 out of it, but it certainly was an effort.”

This American tour is Hart’s first and already he’s secured a top-20 at the Northeast Amateur last month and last week at the Dogwood started well with an opening round of 5-under-par, 67, to be the best of the Aussies after the opening round and went on to eventually record a top-30 finish. With each tournament here in the US, Hart’s confidence continues to grow as he seeks his first win after being close on so many occasions back in Australia both at the Federal Amateur and the Queensland Amateur Championship.

“I’m feeling very confident,” says Hart.

“If I can manage to minimise my mistakes tomorrow, I know I’m capable of shooting a low number that’s required.”

Jordan Sherratt is another Aussie to hold his ground at the Players with rounds of 71-71-75 to be at 1-over-par and the next best placed Australian behind Hart in a tie for 16th position. Sherratt is beginning to regain his form in the US, after staring his campaign here a little slowly.

“I’m playing alright, just didn’t start the trip that well,” said Sherratt, winner of the Master of the Amateurs last January in a play-off over the defending champion at the Players, Bud Cauley.

“I feel that I’m hitting it better as the trip goes on. I just need to make a few more putts out there tomorrow and I should have a chance of finishing somewhere near the top. The greens are so fast and so hard and it’s a challenge, but it’s fun as well.”

Kalem Richardson had opened well with rounds of 68-73 but found the conditions during today’s round a little tougher as he carded a 7-over-par, 79, to move to a tie of 27th position. The Tasmanian went into the third round in 5th position and will be disappointed with his effort in a tournament that was again shaping up nicely for him after a solid top-20 finish at the Dogwood last week.

Daniel Beckmann fired the day’s second lowest round with a 3-under-par, 69, to jump twenty-nine places to be at 5-over-par and in a tie for 30th position. Behind Beckmann is Ryan McCarthy with rounds of 75-71-76 to be in a tie for 36th position moving into the final round.

Kieran Pratt fired rounds of 75-71-77 to be in a tie for 40th position at 7-over-par, along with Bryden Macpherson 70-76-77, one inside the cut mark that came in at 8-over-par.

Luke Bleumink (76-77-72), Jason Scrivener (74-72-80), Mitch Krywulycz (71-83-76) and Brendan Smith (75-76-80) missed the cut for Sunday’s final round.

The 2010 Players Amateur winner receives an exemption into the PGA Tour Verizon Heritage, which is played at Hilton Head’s Harbour Town Links.