Cory Kaufman

Kaufman Continues to Lead Heading into Final Round at Columbia  

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Blythewood, SC- Spring Creek Classic runner-up Cory Kaufman backed up his first round 65 with a second round 5-under-par 67 to take a one shot lead into the final round of the Tarheel Tour Columbia Open at Columbia Country Club.

Kaufman, who hails from Bluffton, SC made six birdies against a single bogey to move to 12-under-par and take a one-shot lead over 2004 U.S. Amateur runner-up Luke List. Kaufman grabbed the lead in part because of his play on the difficult par three’s at Columbia Country Club. He was 2-under-par on the demanding quartet of par three holes, with birdies on the long 14th and the diabolical 17th. With a win on Thursday, Kaufman, who is 11th on the money list, is likely to move to third on the money list, and could jump all the way to second place if the chips fall in his favor.

List, a former Masters participant, matched Kaufman’s 67 on Wednesday morning and paired with his first round 66, moved to 11-under-par and alone in second place. List had one of his most up and down rounds of the year recording five birdies and two eagles, but he also recorded four bogeys. The former Vanderbilt University standout is looking for his first win in his first full season on the Tarheel Tour. Alone in third place is Bermuda Run Open Champion Kevin Kisner. The former University of Georgia All-American fired a second round 4-under-par 68 to stand alone in third place. The two-time Tarheel Tour winner is currently in third place on the money list and would likely jump to second with a top three finish this week.

A trio of players share fourth place at 9-under-par 135, including Nationwide Tour player Blake Adams. Adams is 92nd on the Nationwide Tour money list this year, which is quite an achievement considering he does not have any status on the tour and earns his way in through Monday qualifiers and impending top-25 finishes. The Eatonton, GA native followed a first round 67 with a 68 in the second round. Elliot Gealy, another former Nationwide Tour player, and tour rookie Kevin Chappell also hold a share of fourth place at 9-under. Chappell, who helped UCLA win the NCAA Championship this spring, fired a 7-under-par 65, which was the round of the day by two shots.

Columbia Country Club returned to the demanding test that it usually is as clear and sunny skies helped dry the course out after Tuesday’s early morning rain and led to greens that rolled 11.5 on the stimp meter. The course averaged 73.26 strokes in the second round, nearly two shots tougher than in Tuesday’s first round. The course promises to get more difficult as bright skies and clear conditions are expected to continue on Thursday. The cut fell at 2-under-par 142, with 52 players surviving to play the final round and compete for a share of the $130,000 purse.

The final round of the EGolf Tarheel Tour Columbia Open will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. The single tee start means that the final pairing of Kaufman, List, and Kisner will tee off at 10:33 a.m. EGolf and the Tarheel Tour encourage everyone in the greater Columbia area to come to Columbia Country Club on Thursday to see a very deserving champion crowned at one of the tour’s finest venues. Admission to the event is open to the public and free of charge.




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