Georgia Tech golfer leads Southern Amateur

HOT SPRINGS, VIRGINIA - Georgia Tech&#39;s Nick Thompson shot a 1-under-par 69 Friday and holds a one-stroke lead in the Southern Golf Association&#39;s 97th Southern Amateur golf tournament at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. <br> <br> Alex Hamilton of South Carolina fired a tournament-low, 7-under-par 63 -- just one stroke off the Cascades course record -- to claim second place with a three-round total of 207 heading into Saturday&#39;s final round. Hamilton birdied each of the four closing holes. <br> <br> Only six players are under par through three rounds, including New York City stock broker George Zahringer, the reigning USGA Mid-Am champ. Zahringer, a 50-year-old playing in a field dominated by college stars, shot 70, including an eagle 2 on the sixth when he holed a 129-yard 9-iron approach. <br> <br> Auburn&#39;s Lee Williams saw his chance of defending his Southern Am title fade with a third round of 76 that left him nine strokes off the pace.