Napier Maintains Two Stroke Lead at 54th M&P Group Texas State Open After 54-Holes
Tanner Napier of Paris, TX carded a third round 66 to maintain his two stroke lead after 54 holes of the 54th M&P Group Texas State Open. Napier has recorded rounds of 62-63-66 and is at 19-under-par at Cascades Country Club.
Napier started the round by increasing his lead to three strokes with a birdie on the first hole. “[I] got off to a great start, hit it in the fairway on number one and made birdie. Made a few pars and had a really fortunate bounce on the third hole to keep my ball in bounds,” said Napier.
Unfortunately Napier didn’t chip in again on the 18th like he did in the first two rounds. “Hole 18 is my favorite hole right now, I thought I was going to chip in again today.”
Frederick Wedel of The Woodlands, TX is currently in second place at 17-under-par. Wedel fired the second lowest round of the day, a 30-32–62, 8-under-par.
“I hit it pretty steady and kept everything in front of me, I really got going with the putter. In the middle part of my round I made probably four putts all between 20 to 30 feet,” said Wedel. One of the putts was on the par-5, 8th hole down the hill and breaking right to left for eagle.
“I had a couple great opportunities coming in but didn’t get them to fall. Overall [it was a] very good day.”
Wedel and Napier, who are sharing a house together this week, will be joined by Ryan Johnson in the final group at 9:50 am tomorrow morning.
2019 Texas State Open Champion Kyle Pritchard carded the lowest round of the day at 30-31–61. The 9-under-par round moved Pritchard 25 places up the leaderboard to 14-under-par and five strokes behind Napier.
On holes 13-16 he went birdie, eagle, eagle, birdie. On just the 14th and 15th holes Pritchard is 8-under-par for the week. “It was kind of a surprise. I have been playing well all week and then turned it on for hole 13, 14 , 15. It turned 3-under-par into 8-under-par real quick,” he said.
The Championship features two additional divisions, Low PGA Professional and Low Amateur.
Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas, TX, leads the PGA Professional Division at 13-under-par after rounds of 66, 65, 66. “I have had so much fun this week. I have just enjoyed getting to come out here and play against these guys that have good talent.” Dillard continues, “I was able to bring my A-game this week and play some good golf, so it's been a blast.”
Jack Burke (a) of Orange, TX, a rising senior at Texas State University leads the Amateur Division at 10-under-par, after carding a 33-33–66 with four birdies and an eagle, with only two bogies.
Additionally, Blake Elliott of Bullard, TX remains the only player in the field that has not made a bogey during the Championship.
The 54th M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event and consists of 156 professionals and amateurs. The starting field was made up of exempt players as well as successful qualifiers. The 61 players who made the cut will compete for the Championship purse of $201,000. The winner will take home $40,000.
This is M&P Group’s second year as the title sponsor and the Championship is presented by Joyce Crane and supported by Christus Trinity Mother Frances, Holiday Inn - Tyler Conference Center, Jucys Hamburgers and Patterson Tyler.
Cascades Country Club
Par: 35-35–70
Yardage: 6,882 yards
View Round Three Results HERE
View Final Round Tee Times
HERE
