Merrick Leads by 3 as Bruins Dominate

It might not have seemed as if much was happening on the leaderboard Saturday during the third round of the Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Championship, but clearly, there was something Bruin.

Three members of the UCLA golf team are well placed for a title run heading into the final round today at La Jolla Country Club.

John Merrick of Long Beach, who will be a Bruin sophomore in the fall, leads the tournament after shooting two-under-par 70 Saturday for a tournament total of five-under 211.

Teammate Travis Johnson of Bellflower, who will be a junior, is tied for second with Jonathan Echols of Fresno three shots back. Steve Conway, another Bruin, is in a six-way tie for fourth at one-under 215.

Merrick, who won the Long Beach City Championship last weekend, seems to have a comfortable lead, but after what happened to the second-round leaders Saturday, nothing is guaranteed.

Steve Mena of Long Beach began the day with a one-shot lead at six under but shot 78 and is five shots behind Merrick. John Pate was five under to start the day but shot 76 and is four behind.

Only nine players broke par in the third round and only two broke 70, leaving many players disappointed for not making a bigger move and others knowing what it will take to win today.

“I just need to play a solid round,” said Merrick, who had three birdies and a bogey Saturday. “But I’m playing well right now. I’m confident. It feels like no matter where I hit it, I’m going to make par.”

Johnson started slowly but got hot at the end and finished birdie-birdie-eagle-bogey to make his move.

“I was waiting to get on a roll, and I finally did,” he said. “I’m kicking myself because it looks like if I played better I could have gotten a decent lead.”

USC also is well represented. Recent graduates Alex Kuyumjian of Thousand Oaks and Nick Jones are among those tied for fourth at one under. Kuyumjian, who began the day 10 shots out, shot 67 and was one of the few players to make a move.