NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The State Amateur Championship has a definite Middle Tennessee feel as three Blue Raider golfers are among the top 10 entering the final round at the Belle Meade Country Club Friday.
Sophomore Craig Smith, the 2007 Sun Belt Conference low medalist and a native of Springfield, Tenn., shot a five-under-par 67 Thursday and is 6-under 210, two strokes off the lead entering Friday's final round. Junior Chas Narramore is three shots off the lead with a 211 through three rounds, and Murfreesboro native Spencer Provow is tied for seventh with a 213.
University of Texas sophomore Bobby Hudson, a Memphis native, leads the tournament with an 8-under 208.
Three other Blue Raiders made the cut at the State Am and are still among the field. Senior Nick Bailes (Cleveland, Tenn.) and junior Scott Vick (Franklin, Tenn.) are tied for 36th, and freshman Jason Millard (Murfreesboro) is 58th.
Smith has put himself in position to contend for the title with another solid performance on the links. He is 8-under on par-5s for the tournament, including 5-under in Thursday's third round. Smith's 67 Wednesday was one shot off his career best and included an eagle on the par-5 No. 8. He also enjoyed five birdies and 10 pars. Smith has 34 pars, 12 birdies, and an eagle through three rounds.
Narramore was cruising with an 8-under 136 through two rounds but shot a 3-over 75 Thursday. Still, he is within striking distance thanks in large part to a career-best 65 in Wednesday's second round.
Smith and Narramore will attempt to keep the pressure on as they lead a strong Middle Tennessee contingent into the final round of the State Am.
State Amateur Championship
Middle Tennessee golfers
2 Craig Smith 75-68-67=210 -6
T3 Chas Narramore 71-65-75=211 -5
T7 Spencer Provow 66-68-79=213 -3
T36 Nick Bailes 75-75-74=224 +8
T36 Scott Vick 78-72-74=224 +8
58 Jason Millard 76-74-81=231 +16
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