Zach James Has Strong Finish to Take Back the Lead with 18 Holes Remaining at the 53rd M&P Group Texas State Open
TYLER, TX – Zach James from Sherman, TX leads at the 53rd M&P Group Texas State Open at 14-under-par after 54 holes of competition at the Cascades Country Club. James, who was tied for the lead after round one, finished the day 6-under-par in his final six holes.
“From the back-nine on, I just caught a heater and started hitting good shots. Got to 15, drivable par 4 and I hit [the ball] to eight feet and made eagle there. I made another birdie on the next and luckily two-putted the last [hole] to get to a 63.”
James played collegiate golf at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (2015-2019), where he was named to the Great American Conference (GAC) Men's Golf All-Decade Team. In 2021 he won the Oklahoma Open. He now leads the 53rd M&P Group Texas State Open by two strokes and one round to play.
Matthew Watkins (a) from Heath, TX currently leads the Low-Amateur Division at 11-under-par. This is the third consecutive Texas State Open appearance for the 2021 Low-Amateur. In 2021, Watkins (a) shot 17-under-par to capture Low-Amateur honors, but was eight shots behind the eventual winner Jack Ireland, who recorded a Texas State Open record winning score of 255, 25-under-par. This year, Watkins (a) is only three shots off the lead of James and is vying to become the first amateur to capture the Texas State Open since Homero Blancas won the tournament in its inaugural year in 1960.
The championship also features a Low PGA Professional Division. JJ Killeen, PGA director of golf at Red Feather Golf and Social Club in Lubbock, TX leads this Division at 3-under-par.
The 53rd M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event and consists of 156 professionals and amateurs. 56 players survived the 36-hole cut at even-par and will play the final two rounds while competing for a purse of $200,000. The champion will receive $40,000 tomorrow. The final round will begin at 8:00 a.m. on the 1st and 10th holes and the final grouping will start at 9:39 a.m..
This is M&P Group’s first year as the title sponsor after signing a multi-year agreement with the Northern Texas PGA. The Championship is presented by Joyce Crane and supported by Austin Bank, Christus Trinity Mother Frances, Energy Weldfab, Jucys Hamburgers and Patterson Tyler.
The Cascades Country Club
Par: 35-35–70
Yardage: 6,882 yards
View Round Three Results
HERE
