The two most recent South Carolina Amateur champions are on the top of the leader board heading into the final round of the 93rd state championship being played at the Country Club of Charleston.

Zach Adams the 2022 champion saw his five stroke lead over 2023 champion Todd White disappear in the first three holes of the third round before getting back on track.

Adams had shot rounds of 7-under par 64 the first two days, but on moving day he carded a 1-over par round of 72 to allow White to cut into what had been a five-shot lead.

The Gamecock junior started his round with a double bogey and a bogey while the 56 year old White birdied two of his first three holes to get to 11 under par and tie Adams.

“”I got a tough break on one. It was the first adversity I had to face all week,” noted Adams, “Quick double, and was three-over thru 2,” he said.

When White added his third front nine birdie on the seventh hole he temporarily took the lead, before a bogey on number 8 dropped him back into a tie with Adams.

White, a SCGA Hall of Fame golfer who won his first SCGA Amateur title in 1990, finished the front nine at 2-under par while Adams carded a 3-over par 39 to send both golfers to the back nine tied.

After a shaky start Adams bounced back with his birdie on the 11th hole earning back the lead.

The Charleston golfer, playing his home course, added two more birdies to pull three shots in front of White, who played the back nine at even par.

A bogey on his 18th hole reduced Adams lead to two shots over White going into the final round on Sunday.

“I hung in there and got it back to even. I made bogey on 18, but I’m excited for tomorrow. I know what I’m capable of on this golf course. I play here every day, so I know how many birdies I can make. I just like to have fun out here,” said the tournament leader.

South Carolina’s Junior champion Chas Cline had started the round in second place, two shots behind the leader, but Cline shot a 1-over par round of 72 to fall into a third place tie.

Greenville’s Jed Dirksen turned in the best round of the day shooting a 5-under par 66 to tie Cline and Matthew Doyle of Summerville for third place, two shots behind the leader.

Liberty University golfer Andrew Gregory from Boiling Springs had the second best round of the day and used his 4-under par 67 to move into the top-10 and tie Daniel Acevado from Daniel Island for sixth place at 7-under par.

Chandler Mulkey from Johns Island, USC golfer Walker Jennings from Greenville and SCGA Player of the Year Sam Jackson from West Columbia round out the top-10 at 6-under par.

The final pairing of Adams, White and Dirksen will tee-off for the final round at 9:40 am.

Thanks to the SCGA for help with our coverage.

Scores from the third round of the South Carolina Amatuer https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/4584436