Bernard, 16, continued to lead the field on a chase of "Are You Better Than An 11th Grader?" on Thursday when he shot a 2-under 69 to take a one-shot lead with a 54-hole score of 7-under 206.
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio -- Michael Bernard is the only player in the Ohio Amateur field who will be required to report to history class on Aug. 11.
He also is the only player who has not had the opportunity to vote, has not attended his senior prom and has not bought a beer for his buddies after a round of golf.
More importantly, he also is the only player in the field of this year's Ohio Amateur to shoot three rounds in the 60s, with a chance to become the youngest winner in the 104-year history of the tournament, which concludes Friday at Kirtland Country Club.
Bernard, 16, continued to lead the field on a chase of "Are You Better Than An 11th Grader?" on Thursday when he shot a 2-under 69 to take a one-shot lead with a 54-hole score of 7-under 206.
Arnold Palmer, Ben Curtis, John Cook and Gary Trivisonno weren't heading into their junior year of high school when they won their Ohio Am titles. Toledo's Frank Stranahan, who would go on to finish second in the Masters and the British Open as an amateur in 1947, was 18 when he won the first of his two Ohio Am titles in 1941.
Bernard, who attends Wayne High in the Dayton suburb of Huber Heights, is on top of the pack -- trimmed to low 40 and ties for the final round -- after Cincinnati attorney Bill Williamson, the 54-hole leader, played the final two holes in 3 over and finished with a 73 for a total of 207.
Dublin's Michael Cress, who was second after 54 holes, is three shots back and shares third place with former Kent State player Tom Ballinger.
Bernard, who did not qualify for last year's state tournament, became the hunted when he took the lead with a par to Williamson's bogey on the 425-yard 18th hole.
"It's obviously different than playing in a few groups back," Bernard said of his final-round strategy. "It is a little different, but my strategy is going to be about the same -- to play good, make good shots and take one shot at a time."
Bernard was two shots behind when he reeled off four straight birdies, narrowly missing an eagle on the scenic 525-yard 10th. He made birdie putts of 12, 18 and 10 feet on the seventh through ninth holes.
At the 10th, which requires a drive of about 250 yards to clear the brush in front of the tee, he reached the green in two and left his eagle attempt on the front edge of the hole for a tap-in birdie.
The leaders will tee off at 10:20 a.m. on Friday, and the event is open to the public.