Sam Burns leads boys' group by four after three rounds of Junior PGA

BRYAN, Texas – After heavy rain and thunderstorms halted play in the boys’ division Thursday afternoon at Miramont Country Club, Sam Burns of Shreveport, La., took a commanding four-stroke lead this morning heading into the final round of the 39th Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks.

The 72-hole Championship featured a 54-hole cut to the low 30 boys, including ties, with 31 players making the cut at 5-over-par 218.

Both the boys’ and girls’ divisions will conclude today.

In the boys’ division, Burns, runner-up in the 2013 Junior PGA Championship, used a 6-under- par 65 to take a four-stroke lead over Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas. Brad Dalke of Hobart, Okla., is third, five strokes behind Burns.

Third-round leader Gordon Neale of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., shot 73 and is fourth, six strokes back of Burns.

“When the rain came yesterday, I still knew that there were some birdie holes coming up today that would let me put the pressure on Gordon [Neale],” said Burns.

Burns, who began the round two strokes back of Neale, made his move on the back nine, where he made three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 18th hole.

“I hit a 4-iron as well as I wanted to on 18 and was fortunate to make the putt,” said Burns. “But I need to keep playing smart this afternoon and give myself more chances for birdies. If I do that, I’ll be just fine.”

In the girls’ division, Kristen Gillman of Austin, Texas, took a six-stroke lead into the final round today. The third round of the girls’ division concluded Thursday before the storm hit.

In addition to claiming the Patty Berg Trophy in the girls’ division and the Jack Nicklaus Trophy in the boys’ division, the field of 156 players will be vying for an exemption to compete on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour in 2015.

The boys’ division champion this year will compete at the 2015 Valero Texas Open, March 26-29, at TPC San Antonio in Texas. The girls’ division champion this year will receive an exemption into the 2015 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, April 24-27, at Lake Merced Golf Club in San Francisco, Calif. The agreement was reached between the PGA of America, which conducts the Junior PGA Championship, the Valero Texas Open, and the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

Finally, the Junior PGA Championship will serve as the final qualifying event for the 2014 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, which will face Europe, Sept. 22-23, at Blairgowrie Golf Club in Perthshire, Scotland. The champion and runner-up in both divisions automatically earn a spot on the U.S. team.