Levi Moody has a one-shot lead going into the final round of the SCGA Junior at the Columbia Country Club. (SCGA Photo)

Levi Moody is being chased by the best junior golfers in South Carolina, but through 36 holes he has kept them in the review mirror.

Six  of the top seven golfers in the Heritage Foundation SCJGA rankings are in six of the top seven spots in the tournament being played at the Columbia Country Club.

Moody fired a 3-under par 69 to finish the second round with a one stroke lead over the field in the 59th junior championship.

The Travelers Rest golfer lost half of his lead to Ryan Marter of Columbia. Marter shot the best round of the day posting a 4-under par 68 to pull within one shot of the leader.

The final three-some in the final round will include the defending state junior champion Trent Phillips. The Inman golfer shot his second straight round of 3-under par 69 to stand at 6-under par.

Phillips will be trying to be the fifth golfer to win back to back junior championships. The last golfer to win two in a row was Tommy Biershenk, Jr. of Boiling Springs.

The only golfer to win three straight state junior championships was Charlie Rymer in 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Harry Reynolds of Christ Church in Greenville and Zack Gordon of Gaffney are fourth and fifth. The two golfers are four shots off the lead and within striking distance of the Moody.

Ryan Marter had the best second round with a 4-under par 68. (File Photo)

AAA State high school champion Jacob Bridgeman of Inman and AAAA SC high school champion Holden Grigg of Myrtle Beach are tied for sixth at 144 for the first 36 holes.

The final round could be a battle of future Wofford College teammates. Marter a freshman for the Terriers next year and Moody has given a verbal commitment to the program for the following year.

So far the rising senior from Travelers Rest has followed his game plan and believes it could work again in the last round.

“I’ll keep the same plan as today, keep the ball in play – fairways and greens and hopefully have some putts drop,” said Moody.

Defending champion Trent Phillips is two shots behind the leader after 36 holes. (File Photo)

Rock Hill’s Zachary Reuland moved past first round co-leaders Mason Tucker and Trey Crenshaw. Reuland shot  a 1-under par 71 to start the final round with a four-shot lead in the boys 13-14 year old division.