McCarthy Extends Lead during Round Three of the 47th Veritex Bank Texas State Open

NTPGA • August 3, 2017

Dallas, Texas – After multiple suspensions of play yesterday at the Veritex Bank Texas State Open, Round Two was completed this morning at 9:45 a.m., and the cut was made shortly after. Sixty-two players survived the cut at 3-over-par, 143. Fifty-three of those competitors were professionals and nine were amateurs. Nine amateurs are the most to make the cut since 2008.

Brax McCarthy of Fort Worth, Texas, continued his great play through the third round, and put good distance between him and the field heading into tomorrow’s final round. An impressive eagle was the highlight of McCarthy’s third round, holing-out from a fairway bunker on #15 from 133 yards. He notched an additional four birdies and just one bogey to finish at 5-under-par 65 for a third straight day. He remains at the top of the leaderboard at 15-under-par 195. McCarthy will hold a nine-stroke advantage tomorrow in his pursuit of the Championship trophy.

“I think I’m driving the ball pretty well this week and making some good putts, which is always nice. Anytime you can get a 30-footer to drop is always a confidence boost,” said McCarthy after his round. “I know it’s generic and cliché but I’m going to try to take it one shot at a time. I’m going to count on [my caddie] a lot for that – just got out there and play golf. Have a nice walk, maybe.”

Andrew Paysse (a) of Temple, Texas, positioned himself in the current top spot for Low Amateur honors shooting 5-under par 65 today. Paysse (a) is a rising senior at Texas A&M University and is currently tied for second place in the Championship at 6-under par 204 with four others, including 2016 Texas State Open Champion Juan Fernandez of Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Paysse (a) and Fernandez will attempt to apply pressure to McCarthy when the three tee-off in the final group at 9:48 a.m.

Two PGA Members made the cut – Ben Kern, PGA head professional at Oeste Ranch Golf Course in Weatherford, and Brian Norman, PGA teaching professional at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano. Kern is currently leading the Low PGA Professional division with rounds of 70-69-69--208, 2-under for the tournament.

The 72-hole stroke play event consisted of 156 players comprised of 35 amateurs and 121 professionals. The field played 36-holes before being cut to the low 55 scores and ties this morning.

All four rounds are being contested at Trinity Forest Golf Club, a 7,135-yard, par 70 layout. The Veritex Bank Texas State Open has a purse of $200,000, one of the largest purses in the country for a state open. First place will win $40,000.

Children's Health is the charitable partner of the 47th Veritex Bank Texas State Open. The final round will commence on Friday, August 4 at 8:00 a.m. Competitors will be in groups of three and will start on #1 and #10 tees.

Starting times and groupings can be found at www.ntpga.com. Admission is free to all.

Please note: (a) denotes amateur, and amateurs will be awarded gift certificates.

Round Three results

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