July 18, 2003

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecock golfer Alex Hamilton shot a blistering 7-under-par third round and stands in second place entering Saturday’s final round at the 97th Southern Amateur Championship, in Hot Springs, Va. Hamilton, a native of Aiken, S.C., has a three round total score of 3-under-par 207 (73-71-63). His third round score of 63 is the lowest score of the tournament thus far.

Hamilton trails Nicholas Thompson of Pompano Beach, Fla., by one stroke entering Saturday’s final round. The threesome of Hamilton, Thompson and Casey Wittenberg of Memphis, Tenn. are scheduled to tee-off at 9:40 A.M. at The Homestead-Cascades Course.

The Southern Amateur Championship dates back to 1902. Some of the past champions of the tournament include Bobby Jones Jr. (1919, 1920 and 1922), Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Davis Love and Justin Leonard.