Aug 3, 2003 By Rob Burchianti 5 min read

Teen-agers Brian Galica and Brandon Katzeff continued their battle atop the leaderboard through the third round of the 2003 Fayette County Open Championship at Duck Hollow Golf Club on Saturday. A couple of veterans lurk within striking distance, however, which should make for an interesting final round today on the same course.

Galica, the leader at 219, and Katzeff, who is two strokes back at 221, are both recent graduates of Laurel Highlands. Galica, 19, is currently attending IUP where he’s a member of the golf team, while Katzeff, 17, is headed for Marshall University where he, too, will play college golf.

Sitting in third place, four strokes back at 223, is defending champion Pat Calvaresi, with seven-time champion John Kingora five behind at 224.

There’s a five-shot gap between the top four and fifth-place Joe Lenkey, who is at 229 after shooting the second-best round of the day with a 74.

Galica and Katzeff shared the lead after each shot a first-round 69 at Uniontown Country Club on Thursday. Katzeff shot a 74 during Friday’s second round at Pleasant Valley Country Club to take a one-stroke lead over Galica, who carded a 75.

Galica reclaimed the lead on Saturday, thanks to a three-over-par 75 and one costly late hole by Katzeff, who was in front most of the round.

“I had one bad hole today and it cost me four strokes,” Katzeff said. “I hit my tee shot way left on 16 and took a quadruple bogey. I’ve played well for three days. I just had one bad hole.”

Katzeff kept his composure and recorded a par on each of the final two holes, wrapping up his round with a 20-foot putt on 18.

“That was a nice way to finish,” Katzeff said. “It gives me a positive attitude going into tomorrow. It feels good to be right in it going into the final day. I’m happy where I stand. My short game and my driving were working well for me today.”

Galica’s round included five bogeys, two birdies, 11 pars and a few good bounces.

“I struggled some, but I’m really happy with the way I played,” Galica said. “I really got some good breaks, lucky breaks, and I took advantage.”

It’s been more than good luck that has the talented Galica in position to claim his first Fayette Open title, though. One of his highlights on Saturday was par on the same par-three 16th hole that cost Katzeff the lead.

“That was one of the better up and downs of my life,” Galica said with a smile. “I hit my tee shot way right about 40 yards, but then I hit a big flop sand wedge to within about a foot to get my par.”

Calvaresi bounced back from a first-round 77 in extremely wet conditions to a third-round 73, the best score of the day.

“I’m happy to still be in the tournament,” said Calvaresi, who won last year’s event by 12 strokes. “All you can ask for is to have a chance on the last day.”

Calvaresi’s goal is to be consistent and let the chips fall where they may.

“I just try to take it one shot at a time and try to handle each situation,” Calvaresi said. “If you get a good break or a bad break, you just take it and keep going”

Calvaresi waved off the notion that getting caught in horrendous conditions on Thursday may end up costing him the tournament.

“That’s golf,” Calvaresi said. “They deal with that on the PGA Tour all the time. Some guys will play early in bad weather and guys who play later will get ideal conditions. You just have to adjust. Would I have liked it to be dry on Thursday? Sure. But I’m not going to dwell on it. That’s over. I hit the ball well today.

“If I make some putts tomorrow, I like my chances.”

Kingora couldn’t buy a birdie, but still recorded a 75 with three bogeys and 15 pars.

“I just didn’t putt well and I didn’t drive the ball very good either,” said Kingora, who was paired with Galica and Katzeff. “They’re nice young men. It was a pleasure to play with them. I really had a good time in that group.

“But it seems like everybody is younger than me now.”

Calvaresi also had praise for the two atop the leaderboard.

“It’s tough being the defending champion. The competition is really tough,” Calvaresi said. “Those young guys made me step up my game. My hats off to them with how well they played.”

Justin Goletz heads the rest of the top 10 with a total of 232 to put him in sole possession of sixth place, three shots behind Lenkey. He joined Calvaresi, Lenkey, Galica, Kingora and Bernie Wydo as the only golfers to break 80 on Saturday, checking in with a 79.

Mike Revak, who was given an early tee time along with Jim Hayes Jr. so the two could attend a wedding, is tied with George Knapp for seventh place at 233.

Wydo’s round included a rare feat in this year’s tournament in back-to-back birdies, on Nos. 14 and 15. The 2001 champion moved from a tie for 14th place to sit all alone in ninth at 234.

“I’m sort of back in it,” Wydo said. “I can’t win it, but I maybe have a shot at getting into the top five.

“I only had one three-putt today after having seven the first day, which just killed me.”

Chris Taylor rounds out the top 10 with a total of 235.

The only other golfers under 240 are Jim Manges (238) and 17-year-old Zach Rockwell (239).

Today’s final group of Galica, Katzeff and Calvaresi will tee off at approximately 10:10 a.m.