Salinda, a former junior member at The Olympic Club and current senior on the Stanford men's golf team, finished with five-straight birdies to post a new competitive course record.
PACIFIC COAST GOLF ASSOCIATION (San Francisco, Calif.) - Isaiah Salinda of South San Francisco, Calif., made birdie on more than half of his holes during third round play, posting a new competitive course record on the Lake Course en route to a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship.
A senior on the Stanford men's golf team, Salinda started the week four-over-par through his first eight holes and would have been a distant favorite at that point to hold the outright lead after 54-holes.
Remaining patient on the difficult par-71, 7,147 major-tested layout against a stacked field of amateurs, Salinda closed round one at even par. After a second round four-under 67, Salinda rode a wave of confidence heading into third round action.
Although the wind picked up and the greens became more firm as the afternoon went on, Salinda remained patient. After making the turn in great position at -7 overall, riding a streak of three-straight birdies, Salinda would have a back nine to remember.
Sitting tied with 36-hole front runner Austin Eckroat (Edmond, Okla.) through nine holes today, Salinda made his fourth consecutive birdie on the par-4 10th to get it to -8.
He would make three-straight pars and fall out of the lead as the seesaw battle with the ultra competitive field continued with a number of players behind him in the groupings making moves up the board.
Stepping onto the par-4 14th hole, Salinda's golf life would change forever. Thus began the record setting finish of five-straight birdies, en route to a nine-under-par 62 and a spot in The Olympic Club lore as the competitive course record holder.
"I guess I birdied my last my last five," Salinda laughed when asked after his round with an ear-to-ear smile, donning a Cardinal jacket.
"I didn't really realize that until I birdied 18 and was walking up the hill. I kind of just got hot with the putter. Growing up around here, I was a junior member, so I was always pretty comfortable around this course."
Comfortable is an understatement. On a day where many of world's top amateurs struggled to make substantial ground on 36-hole leader Eckroat, Salinda did the unimaginable and vaulted himself right into the lead position with 18 holes to go.
After struggling on the front nine, Eckroat would follow suit to Salinda's path ahead of him on the course and post an impressive back nine to remain in striking distance come tomorrow at -10.
Rounding out the lead group for tomorrow's final round with be Salinda's teammate at Stanford, Brandon Wu of Scarsdale, New York at - 8 overall.
With a jam packed leaderboard of the world's best amateur golfers, the Pacific Coast Amateur's final round action, starting tomorrow at 7:30am with the leaders going off at 9:30am, will guarantee a firework display. A cut was done following today's third round to the low 70 players and ties.
Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend, free of charge.
Held on an annual basis since 1967, with roots dating back to 1901, the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship boasts a rich history of showcasing some of the most talented golfers in the United States and Canada.
Past champions of the Pacific Coast Amateur who have gone on to successful professional careers include PGA Tour winners Aaron Wise (2015), Billy Mayfair (1987, 1988), Jason Gore (1997) and Ben Crane (1998) as well as Web.com Tour winners Michael Putnam (2004) & Andrew Putnam (2010).
For more information on the championship, visit www.pacificcoastamateur.com.
For final round tee times and 54-hole scores, please click here.
ABOUT THE PACIFIC COAST AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Pacific Coast Amateur Championship is one of the oldest and most prestigious amateur golf championships in North America. The first tournament was held on the links of San Francisco Golf Club at The Presidio in 1901. After being played until 1911, The Pacific Coast Amateur then ceased to exist, only to be reconstituted at Seattle Golf Club in 1967. Today, 15 member Pacific Rim golf associations comprise the Pacific Coast Golf Association.
