Griffin leads Rice Planters
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2008 Rice Planters Amateur | Round Three | 05 Jul 2008
Matthew Griffin will take a one-stroke lead over American Mike Stern into the final round of the Rice Planters Championship currently being played at Snee Farm Country Club in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina.
Griffin, a twice National Trial event winner in 2008 with the Mandurah Easter championship and Keperra Bowl, is at 14-under-par for the tournament, after rounds of 67-65-70, with Stern making ground on the Australian, with a third-round 65.
Matthew Griffin Audio Interview
“I’ve been in this situation leading into a final round of a main tournament before, so I kind of know this time what to expect,” remarked Griffin, the world number 7.
“You know you have to grind it out all the way. This is a course where players make a lot of birdies, like what Josh [Younger] did today with his 64 and it means I’ll have to be aggressive tomorrow to have any chance to win the championship.”
Younger, who lost in last year’s play-off to Michael Foster, is in outright third, at 10-under-par after a third-round 8-under-par, 64, a shot short of the course record at Snee Farm Country Club, which he shares with Stewart Cink after Younger last year fired a 63. Younger’s 64, amazingly included three bogeys.
Grant Scott had opened the tournament in fine fashion with 68-66, to be within two strokes of the second round leader Griffin, but a disastrous third-round 5-over-par, 77, has damaged his chances in this tournament. Scott now finds himself T7 at 5-under-par, nine behind Griffin. Michael Foster’s third-round 67, moved the Western Australian to even-par for the tournament, whilst Ray Beaufils is at 4-under-par.
The 54-hole cut for the low 60 and ties came in at 7-over-par, with Brett Rankin and Justin Roach failing to advance to the final round.
Last year Griffin finished third at the Rice Planters. His back-nine 30 in the final round was overlooked when he missed the playoff between Foster and Younger. Tomorrow he’ll be looking to make amends for the events twelve months earlier.
“I’ll need to get my wedge game going tomorrow, as it let me down out there today,” said Griffin.
“The course was a bit trickier today with some tough pins. I just didn’t hit my wedges close enough and missed a lot of god putting opportunities. But, it’s great to be in this position again and see if I can finally get this one.”
