GOLF: Beaty in a familiar spot heading into final round

Moving day at the 2022 Odessa Men’s City Championship set the stage for an exciting Sunday duel between Parker Beaty and Davis Seybert.

Beaty, who is in search of a third consecutive championship, fired off the round of the day with a 5-under-par 67.

“I had a really good start,” Beaty said following his round on Saturday.

“My wedges and putter were really going.”

Despite making mistakes on No. 6 and No. 7, Beaty was able to fight back and climb his way back to six-under for the rount headed into the final hole.

After crushing his drive a good 10-15 yards past his competitors, a wayward second shot left him in an awkward position long and right of the 18th green.

With the ball below his feet and no green to work with, Beaty was unable to conjure up a heroic shot, and walked off the getable par-5 with a bogey.

It didn’t seem to bother the ever-stoic lefty.

“Solid day, just a couple hiccups,” said Beaty.

With regards to the condition of the course, the reigning city champion echoed the sentiment of many of the players this week that things are improving at Ratliff Ranch.

“The greens are obviously slow, everyone knows that, but it seems like they’re starting to be healthy again which is good for the course,” he said. “Of course, as players you want them to roll a bit better. They’re in good shape, just slow.”

Despite having the opportunity to do something historic and capture a third-straight, and fourth-overall, city championship, Beaty says that he really didn’t feel any pressure headed in.

“Expectations are of course I want to win,” he said. “But I’m just trying to play good golf and see where it takes me.”

Beaty will start the final round tomorrow with a two-shot lead.

Overnight leader Davis Seybert fired off a 2-under-par round to stay within striking distance of the reigning champion heading into Sunday.

In the senior flight, Mark Jones fired off a 67, matching the round of the day across the entire tournament, not just in his flight.

He holds a four-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round over Richard Ashton.

In the super senior flight, Skeet Glover posted a two-under 70 to grow his lead to seven shots.

Follow Nicholas Pursley on Twitter @nicholaspursley.