Noll retains lead heading into final round

Published 11:55 pm Saturday, May 19, 2007

David Noll is closer to his first Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship trophy following a one-under-par 70 on Saturday at Country Club of Columbus.

Noll, who finished as runner-up in 2002 and has placed or tied for sixth in two of the past three years at the state mid-amateur, carries a two-stroke lead into today’s final round. Defending Georgia Amateur champion Bill Brown of Dublin and 1995 champ Adam Thomas of Baxley trail Noll by two shots each.

“I just missed a couple putts to put me at 70 today,” Noll said. “It’s the only major in Georgia that I haven’t won, so it means something extra to me.”

Noll posted two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine to turn even, then finished the back nine at 1-under for his second-round 70. Thomas also carded 70 with two birdies, two bogeys and an eagle on the 476-yard 17th hole. Brown’s even-par 71 came courtesy of two birdies (4 and 18) and a double bogey on the par-3 16th.

“It’s going to take the exact same round of golf (today),” Noll said. “You have to be very patient here with these greens..”

Matt Oxford of Rocky Face missed the second-round cut with a round of 78 for a two-day total of 161, putting him tied for 106th overall.

Noll, Brown and Thomas will tee off at 10 a.m. today.