For three straight days Erik Barnes of Marion has held on to
the lead at the Indiana Amateur Championship. His third round score of 68, and
206 total, gives him a slight one stroke advantage over Erich Johnston of Fort
Wayne at 70-70-67=207 heading into Friday’s final round.
Barnes’ game was solid, and when he needed to make a great
recovery shot, he was sure to impress. At the 228-yard, par-3 14th hole, he
flew his tee shot into the hazard right, but made an up and down from the
weeds. On the next hole, a par-5, a lateral punch shot out of the deep hazard
left him a straight shot at the green on his approach and he made a par.
Birdies came early as he stuck his approach shot on the first hole within five
feet, and on the par-5 third hole when he hit the green in two. Barnes sunk a
45 foot eagle putt on 10 to be the only player at 10-under-par all day.
Johnston gained ground on the leader when he also found the
green in two on hole 3 and made two eight foot putts for two more birdies on
the fourth and fifth holes. He matched Barnes’ eagle on 10, and then finished
the round with pars.
Jonathan Balyeat of Fort Wayne sits in third at
69-73-69=211.