Aug. 20, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina junior Eirik Johansen carded his third-straight sub-par round on Friday to stand at 12-under-par and take over sole possession of first place after 54 holes of play at the International European Amateur Championship in Skovde, Sweden. The 72-hole tournament is being played at the par-72, 6,215-yard Skovde Golf Club.

Johansen, a native of Stavanger, Norway, was steady despite wet playing conditions, recording four birdies on the day for a third-round score of 2-under-par, 34-36–70. Players only played 17 holes on Friday, receiving a score of par on the sixth hole, which was rendered unplayable by rain overnight. The 70 on Friday gives Johansen a three-day total of 12-under-par, 70-64-70–204, which is one shot better than Englishmen Gary Lockerbie (70-71-64–205) and Matthew Richardson (68-68-69–205). His 64 on Thursday set the course record and was matched by Lockerbie on Friday.

Following Friday’s round, the field was cut to the top 70 players and ties, and joining Johansen in the final round of play tomorrow will be fellow Gamecock junior Robert Svensson. Svensson is part of a 13-player tie for 62nd place at 71-73-74–218.

The International European Amateur Championship will conclude on Saturday with the final round of play. Live scoring and full results of the event are available at www.golfdata.se/euro/res_lbo.asp?tk=AM0434X&tour=AM.