Knibbs encouraged by day three effort at LAAC

FOR THE first time in his amateur career, William Knibbs teed up for the third round at the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) currently under way at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Puerto Rico.

After holding on to make the cut, Knibbs put in another workmanlike round to shoot two over par 74 for the second day running to head into today’s final day in 50th place of the 54 golfers left in the field.

It was an encouraging day three start for Knibbs, who birdied the par four fourth hole before a double bogey on the fifth and a bogey on the sixth set things back for the Jamaican who made the turn two over par.

Knibbs then dialled in on the back nine and made all pars to close out the third round five-over-par 221.

For Knibbs, it was a satisfying day with the clubs, which was encouraging heading into the final round.

“Today was another solid day and it was by far my best ball-striking day of the week. I also hit very good putts all day, narrowly burning the edges. I like where I am heading going into the last day and I think that I can put everything together to get a number under par.”

Defending champion Aaron Jarvis of Cayman continues to fly the Caribbean flag high, as he is the best placed from the region, following his even-par third round which sees him two under-par 214 and tied for 20th place.

Yadhu Urs of St Lucia is right on Jarvis’ tail also with a two under par 214 with Ricard Gibson Jr of the Bahamas tied for 26th place with a total of one under par 215.

The championship is currently being led by the impressive Argentine Mateo Fernandez De Oliveira, who leads by four shots, following his 18 under-par total of 198.

Mexican Luis Carrera is in second place with 14 under-par 202. Vicente Marzillio and Peru’s Julian Perico are both tied for third with 13 under-par 203.