BLUFFTON, S.C. A day that began with a crowded leaderboard finished with most of the field facing an uphill climb to catch Australian Daniel Nisbet and Alabama star Bobby Wyatt, who distanced themselves from the pack during the third round of the 13th annual Players Amateur on Saturday at Berkeley Hall Club.
Nisbet and Wyatt are the only players who have consistently navigated Berkeley Hall’s South Course without falling prey to the thick rough or tricky pin placements. Only 12 players are under par through 54 holes.
Nisbet started the day with a three-shot lead and maintained his spot atop the leaderboard with a 2-under-par 70 to get to 11-under for the week, but his lead dwindled down the stretch.
Wyatt charged hard with birdies at Nos. 14, 16 and 17 to card a 5-under-par 67 and get within one shot of the lead. He missed an opportunity to pull even when his short birdie putt at the par-4 18th lipped out.
Nisbet and Wyatt will be joined in the final group by Michael Hebert, who posted the best round of the day with a 6-under 66 but is likely playing for third place at 3-under for the tournament.
Matthew NeSmith, the 2011 Junior Heritage champion, is among a group of four players at 2-under.
Nisbet had a relatively quiet round with just three birdies and one bogey. He had a four-shot cushion after his birdie at the par-5 12th and finished with six straight pars.
Meanwhile, Wyatt made a charge, playing the final five holes in 3-under. He made six birdies in the round, and his only misstep was a bogey at the par-5 ninth.
The leaders will tee off at 9:45 a.m. Admission is free, and the tournament is open to the public.
NOTES: The par-4 18th hole, which was the most difficult hole for the third straight day by playing to an average of 4.642 strokes, yielded just two birdies Saturday. The field was cut to the low 48 players for Sunday’s final round, with the cut falling at 7-over. Beaufort’s Rob Simmons (+7) was the only player with local ties to make the cut. Former USC Beaufort golfer Luke McClellan and Bluffton resident Michael Balzer both missed by one shot at 8-over.