Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis recorded a second straight 2-under-par 68 and was tied for the lead with Will Zalatoris of Plano, Texas, headed to the final round of the 49th Pacific Coast Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore.
DeChambeau, the reigning NCAA individual champion who plays at Southern Methodist, took the lead with five birdies on the front nine, but fell back into a tie with two bogeys coming home.
“It’s another chance to win a great golf event and I haven’t been in this position since Nationals,” DeChambeau said. “I am looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.”
Zalatoris, the 2014 USGA Junior Boys’ champion, had three birdies and two bogeys in a round of 69.
Maverick McNealy of Portola Valley, a junior at Stanford, played his way into the final threesome with a 65 and was tied for the lead before making his only bogey on the 18th hole, lipping out an eight-foot par putt .
“I was very happy with how I played today,” McNealy said. “I changed my strategy off the tee, hitting a lot more 3-woods and I was hitting that really straight. A little bit more spin on the ball helped me hold more fairways out there and was a key to my success today.
“There is a lot of golf left. A lot can happen in 18 holes, so I will have to just take it one shot at a time. I hope to get off to a good start and be in contention to win with nine holes left to play tomorrow. It will be a good day of golf.”
Aaron Wise of Lake Elsinore was two shots back in solo third after a 68, followed another stroke behind by K.K. Limbhasut of Thailand and Cal, who also had a 68.
Defending champion Corey Pereira of Cameron Park carded a 70 and was five shots back in a tie for sixth with Shotaro Ban, the California Amateur champion from San Jose and Cal, who also totaled 70.
Beau Hossler of Mission Viejo shot 69 and was another stroke back in a tie for eighth with Eli Cole of Beverly Hills, who also wound up at 69, Andrew McCain of Trinity, Fla., who finished at 72, and Charlie Danielson of Osceola, Wis., who came in at 69.
