Three Share 54-Hole Lead in Dothan
March 11, 2021
Ryan Grider, Keenan Huskey and Maximilian Mehles are tied for the lead at 7-under 209 entering the final round of Mackenzie Tour Q-School at RTJ Golf Trail at Highland Oaks.
The trio holds a one-stroke advantage over four players at 6-under – Jonathan Hardee, Matt Wilson, Logan Lockwood and Bennett Baker.
Grider, who currently plays for Baylor University, carded a bogey-free 67 in the third round after posting 70 and 72 on the first two days.
"I thought that I hit is great today off the tee," Grider said. "My wedges were good and I made a couple putts. It was a fun day out there."
Huskey, who held the solo lead after Tuesday’s opening round, enters the final day with a share of first place after carding 3-under 69 on Thursday. The former South Carolina Gamecock shot 67 and 73 during the first two days in Dothan.
Mehles, a former Kentucky Wildcat, posted 71 in the third round, making the turn in 37 before a bogey-free 34 on the back nine.
"I had a bad bogey on No. 9, but it kind of motivated me for the back nine," Mehles said. "The pins were really tough today. Overall, I’m pretty pleased that I stayed patient and made two birdies on the back nine."
Hardee, currently one stroke behind the leaders, birdied his final three holes of the day en route to 5-under 67.
"It was a good, steady round," Hardee said. "I think I hit 17 greens today. I just gave myself a lot of opportunities. I’ve given myself a lot of opportunities all week – honestly, today they just started going in. I didn’t play any differently. I just made a couple more putts."
Wilson carded 69 for the second consecutive day, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole during Thursday’s round. Lockwood also shot 69 on back-to-back days after opening with 72.
Baker, the solo 36-hole leader, shot 74 in Thursday’s third round. He enters the final day tied for fourth, one shot behind the three-way tie for first.
Rounding out the top 10 on the leaderboard is Otto Black, Samuel Anderson and Steven Fisk in a three-way tie for eighth at 5-under 211. Black matched the low round of the day and tournament with a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Thursday. Calum Masters (T13) also fired 66 in the third round, including a 5-under 31 on the back nine.
The final round begins at 6:30 a.m. (CST) with groupings starting on Holes 1 and 10. The trio of leaders will tee off at 11:50 a.m., on Hole No. 1.