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U.S. Fires Tournament Record at Toyota Junior World Golf Cup
Kizzire fires record 31 on back nine

MINAKUCHI, Japan ? The United States fired a tournament single-round record 204 during the third round of the Toyota Junior World Golf Cup at the 7,006-yard, par 72 bear?s Paw Country Club in Minakuchi, Japan. The 204 moves the U.S. squad to 25-under 623 - a three-round tournament record - and widened its lead over second place South Africa to four strokes. South Africa?s Matthew Kent made 66 and improved his lead over Garrett Sapp of the United States to two shots.

Sapp continued his strong play, making 67 in the third round after opening with scores of 67-68. The star of the day, however, for the Americans was Patton Kizzire, who blistered the back nine for a Junior World Golf Cup record 31 and finished with 66 - tied with Kent for low score of the day. Kizzire double-bogeyed the fourth hole but birdied the next and went on to post eight birdies for the day. Will Osborne also shot one under par.

"Obviously, I?m very proud of our team and how they played today," said United States Head Coach Mike Ketcham. "We got off to a slow start this morning. We were one over through four holes and really, the first four holes on this course you need to be under par. The first four holes of the course are set up for you to get under par early and we didn?t take advantage of it. I can?t tell you how well these guys hung in there as a team and really got going when they got behind the eight ball early."

South Africa was once again led by Kent, whose three round total of 16-under-par 200 is a tournament record. Andrew Georgiou also posted an outstanding day for the South Africans with a 68 while Adrian Schwartzel made par despite feeling the effects of heat exhaustion prior to his round. Spain (632) shot eight-under with all three counters under par to pass Canada by one shot for third.

South Korea (638, -10) dropped one spot to fifth despite shooting two under and is followed by Austria (640), Argentina (645) and New Zealand (646) who are all below par. Japan is even (648) and in ninth through three rounds while Colombia (657) is one spot behind. Italy and Mexico are tied for 11th at 13-over-par 661.

Kent?s 66 moved him two strokes ahead of Sapp (-14) and six up on Spain?s Pablo Martin Benavides who posted a 71. Estansilao Goya of Argentina shot 67 while Mexico?s Gerardo Porras made par to tie for fourth at seven-under. Canada?s Ryan Lidkea and Andrew Georgiou of South Africa are 10 shots out of the lead at minus-six.

"We played well today," said Kizzire. "We had a lot birdies today. Garrett (Sapp) and I both made a bunch. Just a solid day all around and got it in the hole. Coach Ketcham helped me with my swing and it took me one round to get comfortable with it. Today I just tried to attack the flag and start hitting it well and it was a big confidence booster after a few birdies."