Not all final rounds are created equal. Some end in blowouts. Others are decided by mistakes. But now and then, a championship is won with one heroic shot—or lost with one blink-of-an-eye misstep. The 94th SCGA Amateur Championship at Carolina Country Club feels like it could be one of those.

Chase Cline of Chapin and Sam Jackson of West Columbia have turned this tournament into a grind-it-out battle of wills. Cline carded his third consecutive under-par round Saturday, a three-under 69, to reach 15-under 201 and take a one-shot lead into Sunday’s finale. Jackson matched him shot for shot with his own 69 to sit just behind at 14-under 202.

“A Herculean Struggle”

It is one thing to compete against the field, it is something very different when the golfers you have to beat are the ones you see play every shot.

“It’s turning into a Herculean type struggle,” Jackson said after the round. “But today we had a good group and just focused on playing our game. You can’t get too caught up in what the other guy is doing.”

“I think it puts a little more pressure on you when you see the other guy make a putt and then you got to make the putt to stay ahead or not fall behind,” said Cline.

Jackson added, “At this level, the difference between winning and not winning is more mental than anything. There are a lot of guys good enough to win—you just have to put yourself in position and see what happens.”

The two will be joined in the final group Sunday by Elon University standout Jack Wieler, who has flown under the radar, but finds himself squarely in contention after a bogey-free 67 on Saturday. He’s two shots back at 13-under 203.

Don’t Count Out the Chasers

Charles Cauthen, a rising star who will tee it up for the University of Kentucky next season, sits at 10-under and remains in the hunt if the leaders falter.

At 7-under, four players are tied for fifth and may seem out of reach—until you look at their résumés.

Todd White, the SCGA Hall of Famer from Spartanburg, has two State Amateur titles and once captured both the U.S. and British Senior Amateurs. Brent Delahoussaye, the former Clemson standout and pro tour veteran, doesn’t play many state-level events anymore, but always brings game when he does. Erik Erlenkuser, last year’s SCGA Junior Player of the Year, continues to impress after winning the Grant Bennett Junior. Will Ruth, from Moore, has built a habit of showing up when the lights are brightest.

History on the Line?

In 2016 at DeBordieu Club, Carson Young edged Andrew Novak in a memorable final round. Both went on to the PGA Tour.

Could the same be said in a few years about Cline, Jackson, or Wieler?

That’s what Sunday is for.

Third round scores from the SCGA Amateur at the Carolina Country Club https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/5188671