Strachan and Schmutz lead Hawks in third round of National Championship

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – Juniors Sam Strachan and Tyler Schmutz turned in the best rounds for Huntingdon on Thursday in the third round of the NCAA Division III National Championship.

Both golfers shot 3-over-par 75 on the El Campeon Course at Mission Inn Resort. Strachan, who shot 74 and 71 in the first two rounds, is 13 strokes out of first and tied for 10th at 220 entering Friday's final round. The round was the best of the tournament for Schmutz, who is tied for 52nd at 230 after 54 holes.

Oglethorpe's Anthony Maccaglia maintained his lead in the tournament, shooting a 4-under 68 on Thursday. Maccaglia is 9-under-par after three rounds with a 207. Oglethorpe's Hayden Jones is second at 214.

Huntingdon freshman Thomas Mitchell, a day after shooting a 5-under 67, shot 78 on Thursday. Through three rounds, Mitchell is 16 strokes off the lead and tied for 23rd at 223.

Sophomore Jamey Lester and freshman Steven Smith round out the Hawks' top five. Lester shot 79 on Thursday and is tied for 61st at 232 after 54 holes. Smith shot 78 in the third round and enters the final round tied for 75th at 238.

Tournament leader Oglethorpe turned in the low round on Thursday with a 290 and is at 867 entering the final round. Methodist University, 16 strokes back of Oglethorpe, is in second at 883. Transylvania is third at 892.

While Oglethorpe and Methodist have a substantial lead on the rest of the field, only 12 strokes separate Transylvania and 13th-place Huntingdon. The Hawks are at 904 after three rounds.

Huntingdon, which was tied for 11th entering the third round, slipped two spots with a round of 306 on Thursday.

Huntingdon will be paired with Christopher Newport and Gustavus Adolphus in the final round on Friday. The Hawks begin teeing off on the El Campeon Course at 6:40 a.m. CST.

Huntingdon individual results

T10) Sam Strachan: 74-71-75 -- 220

T23) Thomas Mitchell: 78-67-78 -- 223

T52) Tyler Schmutz: 78-77-75 -- 230

T61) Jamey Lester: 79-74-79 -- 232

T75) Steven Smith: 79-81-78 -- 238

Team standings

1. Oglethorpe: 285-292-290 -- 867

2. Methodist University: 291-300-292 -- 883

3. Transylvania: 308-288-296 -- 892

4. Redlands: 295-301-297 -- 893

5. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps: 289-307-300 – 896

6. UT-Tyler: 300-295-303 -- 898

T7. Wittenberg University: 309-293-297 – 899

T7. St. John Fisher College: 302-294-303 -- 899

T9. Illinois Wesleyan: 299-297-304 -- 900

T9. University of LaVerne: 308-293-299 -- 900

11. Guilford College: 300-295-306 -- 901

12. Greensboro: 296-306-301 – 903

13. Huntingdon College: 309-289-306 -- 904

14. Gustavus Adolphus: 301-297-307 -- 905

15. Christopher Newport: 289-308-312 – 909