Comegys propels up leaderboard to take lead in 117th Texas Amateur presented by Hytera US
Matthew Comegys of Van Alstyne seized the lead with an incredible 6-under 65 in Round 3 of the 117th Texas Amateur presented by Hytera US, moving up eight spots on the strength of a near-flawless round that left the rest of the field chasing.
Comegys, who had been hovering near the top of the leaderboard all week, made his move on moving day and caught a wave of momentum that showed no signs of slowing down. By the time he signed his scorecard, he had separated himself from a stacked field and put his name atop the leaderboard heading into the final 18.
Teeing off No. 1 at 10:05 a.m., Comegys started the day four strokes back of the lead, needing another great round to put himself in position to win Sunday. After five straight pars to open, the Van Alstyne native caught fire — eagling No. 6, the drivable par 4 over a ravine, playing the hole under par for the first time this week. The eagle seemed to flip a switch, and Comegys never let up the rest of the way.
A par on No. 7 was followed by four straight birdies on Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11, the stretch that vaulted Comegys into a share of the lead and sent a ripple through the leaderboard. Pars on Nos. 12 and 13 preceded his first bogey of the day on No. 14, but he answered immediately with a birdie on No. 15, showing the kind of composure that’s defined his week. A bogey on No. 16 briefly slowed him down before he closed with a birdie on the par-5 17th and a par on 18 to post a 65 — the low round of the day and a new tournament low.
Comegys, currently ranked 56th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, is playing like it. He’ll look to claim the H.L. Edwards Trophy and become the first Texas Longhorn to win the title since Charlie Holland in 2007, a feat that’s been nearly two decades in the making for the Austin program.
Tied for second and chasing Comegys are Pepperdine golfer Byungho Lee of Plano, Andrew Paysse of Temple and University of Texas golfer Brooks Simmons. All three sit at 7-under par for the tournament, well within striking distance of the lead, and each will carry plenty of confidence into Sunday knowing the title is still very much in reach.
In solo fifth is Spanish Oaks Golf Club member Daniel Martinez, who drew a large gallery and delivered a finish of his own to remember. Playing in front of a home crowd that’s followed him all week, Martinez carded back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 before an eagle on No. 17 — his third eagle in his last 36 holes. The Austin resident closed with a birdie on No. 18, propelling himself up the leaderboard with a possible win in sight and the hometown energy squarely behind him.
Behind Martinez, SMU golfer Alex Huang of Plano, Evan Rohde of Houston and Austen Christiansen of Houston sit tied for sixth at 5-under through 54 holes, each still in the conversation as the tournament heads into its final round.
Rounding out the top 10 are LSU commit Austin Randall of Prosper, Central Oklahoma golfer Nicholas Canales of La Porte, Texas State golfer Rhett O’Rear of Plano, John Beringer of San Antonio, and recent 27th Huntington Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship champion and Texas commit Brooks Harper of Dallas. The group sits at 4-under for the tournament, proof of just how deep and competitive this year’s field has been from start to finish.
Weather in Round 3 could not have been more cooperative. Players were welcomed with temperatures in the low 70s and overcast skies to start the day, ideal conditions for low scoring. Conditions warmed into the mid-80s as the sun broke through, with temperatures peaking at 85 degrees — a welcome break from the heat that tested the field earlier in the week.
No. 16 played as the toughest hole of Round 3. The par 3 stretched 214 yards and produced just five birdies, along with 35 pars, 16 bogeys and three double bogeys, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most demanding holes on the course.
As the 117th Texas Amateur presented by Hytera US heads into the final round, players will look to elevate their game to not only claim the H.L. Edwards Trophy, but also earn a spot in a major USGA championship. The Texas Amateur is in its third consecutive year as a USGA exemption event, with this year’s champion earning a direct exemption into the 126th U.S. Amateur at historic Merion Golf Club.
To view results from Round 3, click here. To learn more about the 117th Texas Amateur presented by Hytera US, click here. To learn more about Spanish Oaks Golf Club, click here.
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