Tyler Reynolds began the final round of the 2013 Fourth of July Championship 10 shots off the lead.
He is in much better position this year.
Reynolds, a sophomore at UALR, parlayed six birdies into a 3-under-par 61 on Saturday afternoon to maintain a one-stroke advantage over Chris Jenkins after two rounds of the 78th annual amateur tournament at War Memorial Golf Course in Little Rock.
Reynolds, 20, a former Little Rock Christian standout, tied for second in last year's tournament after a final-round 61 left him one shot behind champion Stafford Gray of Sherwood.
Reynolds is at 7-under 121 following his third consecutive sub-par tournament round, dating to last year.
"I played pretty good yesterday, not today," Reynolds said. "Finished good, that's the only thing."
Reynolds converted short birdie putts on his final two holes to offset a sluggish start that featured a bogey on No. 1 and a double bogey on No. 3.
Jenkins, seeking his record-tying sixth Fourth of July title, is 6 under following his second consecutive 61.
Beau Glover of North Little Rock, Jay Lester of Maumelle and Wes McNulty of White Hall are tied for third at 1 under.
Kyle Thompson of Hot Springs Village and Tracy Harris of Little Rock are tied for sixth at even par. Thompson shot a 5-under-par 59 on Saturday, the lowest round of the tournament.
"Anybody can still win," said Jenkins, 44, a Little Rock insurance agent. "The last day it plays so hard that anybody within 10 shots has a chance if they go out and play well."
Reynolds and Jenkins will be paired again for today's final round.
Jenkins also had some early hiccups Saturday, bogeying No. 1 and No. 2, which he considers the two toughest holes on War Memorial's tricky 4,341-yard layout.
"Bogey, bogey is fine," Jenkins said. "I would have liked to have parred one of them, but that's not going to kill you."
Reynolds' major miscue came on No. 3, a 279-yard par-4 that doglegs sharply to the right. Reynolds used a 3-wood off the tee, but his shot drifted right out of bounds and led to the double bogey.
"I played smart and was calm after that," Reynolds said.
Reynolds recorded birdies on No. 7, No. 8 and No. 10 -- drivable par-4s -- and on No. 12, a short 438-yard par-5. Reynolds parred his next four holes before birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.
Reynolds birdied No. 17, a downhill 147-yard par-3, after hitting a pitching wedge to 7 feet.
On No. 18, a straightaway 354-yard par-4, Reynolds used a lob wedge from 80 yards to place his approach shot 3 feet from the hole.
Timo Anderson of Little Rock leads the mid-senior division (ages 40-54) with a two-round total of 133. Bobby Baker of Little Rock leads the senior division (55-64) at 125, and Oscar Taylor of Hot Springs Village leads the super senior division (65 and older) at 132.
Sports on 07/06/2014