Shipley five back in round 3 of Sunnehanna Amateur
By Mike Dudurich • June 16, 2023
WESTMONT - After finishing his first graduate season in Columbus, Ohio, the St. Clair native played well for three of the four days of the NCAA individual championships. He stumbled in the final round but finished up in the top 30.
The past two days he’s shown the home folks what the quality of his golf ammunition is by shooting rounds of 68 and 68 and putting himself square in the middle of contention at the Sunnehanna Amateur.
Through six holes of the third round that was halted by darkness Friday, Shipley has made two birdies and one bogey to climb to 5-under par and if he’s able to finish off the final 12 holes of his round this morning, he’ll be right on the tail of leader Jackson Van Paris, who is in at 10-under.
Palmer Jackson, who posted 68 and 73, gained a little ground Friday. He parred his way through front nine, birdied 10 and 11 and then made four more pars. He’s hoping his play at Sunnehanna this week gets him back on track.
Jimmy Ellis didn’t get off the quick start he hoped to after playing a good second round that moved him into the upper echelon of the board. He brought a 4-under total to third round and made bogeys on the second and fourth holes and stands at 2-over as he stands on the 10th tee.
Andrew Friend, son of former PGA professional Bobby Friend, posted his second straight even-par 70. He got off to a slow start in the first round, making two bogeys and a double in his opening round, but has rebounded nicely.
Gregor Meyer has made nine birdies, 9 bogeys and two costly doubles. The latter came in third round and left him for over.
Tanner Johnson has posted rounds of 72, 74 and 69 this week, but has been slowed by 9 bogeys and two double bogeys.
Nathan Smith, the 2011 Sunnehanna Amateur champion, opened with a 75 and rebounded a bit with back-to-back 72s. He’s 9-over heading into today’s final round.
Jimmy Meyers’ first appearance in the Sunnehanna Amateur will be long remembered, but it could be a key to his maturation as a golfer. It was tough out there and it showed as Meyers battled the tough conditions and course.
He made 13 bogeys, 9 birdies and one double one triple-bogey.
Meyers parred the last six holes of his second round 75.
Brady Pavernik also had a tough first three rounds, making 12 birdies and posting scores of 77, 79 and 73.
The field will be cut to the low 60 and ties following completion of the third round this morning.
Players will start the final round from the 1st and 10th tees and play in twosomes.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and 34,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.