Greensboro, NC – Just seven weeks ago, Brett Munson of Evans, GA was in Dublin, OH receiving the coveted Jack Nicklaus Award as the top Division II golfer for the 2009-2010 season. As a two-time "All American" at the University of North Alabama, Munson was the proverbial big fish in a small pond. After four missed cuts to start his professional career, Munson has stunned everyone but himself by clinching the 54-hole lead in the eGolf Tour's second annual Forest Oaks Classic. Now a small fish in a big pond, Munson is on the verge of capitalizing on his immense talent in just his fifth start in the pro ranks.

Munson began the third round of the $235,000 event trailing overnight leader Daniel Woltman by four shots following rounds of 70-66. In Friday's third round at tournament host Forest Oaks Country Club, Munson broke out of his shell to the tune of eight birdies and 10 pars en route to a stunning 8-under 64 on a steamy afternoon in Greensboro, NC. His bogey-free effort vaulted his 54-hole total to 16-under 200 and pushed him to the top of a crowded leaderboard with just 18 holes to play.

"It wasn't a difficult 64," said the 23-year-old Munson. "I hit a lot of fairways and greens and was able to make some putts. It really wasn't complicated.

Known for his prodigious length off the tee, Munson took full advantage of the par-5s at Forest Oaks with birdies on all four of them after reaching three of the four in two shots.

When informed that he in fact was the recipient of the 2010 Jack Nicklaus Award, Munson was taken aback by the honor and the invitation to receive the award in person at The Memorial Tournament in June.

"It was great to meet someone like that who is recognized as the greatest golfer of all time," Munson told The Times Daily at the time. "No one can take that from you. Meeting Jack was the real award for me."

While much of Nicklaus' great play was prior to Munson's birth, Munson nevertheless caught countless highlights on late nights watching the Golf Channel. From the "Duel in the Sun" to the historic win at the 1986 Masters Tournament, Munson had seen plenty of highlights and knew the history of golf's greatest champion.

"When he was winning major championships I wasn't even born yet," Munson said. "I didn't grow up idolizing him, but I know what he's done in golf."

Anyone fortunate enough to meet a legend can attest to the fact that it's 50-50 at best that the legend lives up to the billing in person. All too often, sports heroes fail to impress when cameras are turned off and the autograph signing is done.

Not Jack Nicklaus.

"He was real down-to-earth – more than I expected," said Munson, who was given all-access passes to Muirfield Village Golf Club to take in the weekend of golf. "It was a normal conversation and he seemed to enjoy talking to us. You could tell he was genuine."

Munson's ascension in college golf is made all the more amazing by the fact that he had to walk on North Alabama's golf team as a freshman. Not only was there not a scholarship, there wasn't even a spot.

"I had some offers in high school, but none that could cover enough of the tuition," said Munson, who won five times during his senior year. "After I walked on UNA, I just got better and better each year. I just kept working at it."

Daniel WoltmanThat ability to keep working and keep fighting has proven true in his brief professional career. Although Munson missed all four cuts coming into this week, he nevertheless pointed to the good progress he found in otherwise disappointing results.

"Even though I was missing cuts, my scores got better and better each time, so I knew I was improving," he said. "It's professional golf, but I've been in this situation before. Someone has to win tomorrow, why not me?"

While someone does have to win tomorrow, there are differing opinions on who that someone is – mainly coming from Daniel Woltman and tour rookie Ben Martin. The two players are tied for second, one shot behind Munson at 15-under 201.

Woltman, a two-time "All American" at the University of Wisconsin, got off to a quick start on Friday to extend his lead with a birdie at the par-4 first. That quick start was offset by a streak of seven pars that would cease with another birdie at the par-4 ninth. A closing nine featuring two birdies and one bogey would leave the Beaver Dam, WI native with a third-round 69 and within striking distance of Munson's lead.

For Martin, a third-round 67 at Forest Oaks on Friday has continued his stellar play since turning professional after a standout career at college powerhouse Clemson University. Standing on the tee of the par-5 sixth hole in his third round, Martin was 1-over for the day and quickly losing ground to a field taking full advantage of good scoring conditions. A birdie at the sixth would briefly right the ship, but the round would be completely resurrected with birdies at 10 and 11 that would give way to a finishing tear and birdies at 16, 17 and 18.

Ben MartinMartin's 201 total has him on the verge of capturing his first professional title one week after making his first professional start at the tour's Southern Open, where he finished T11.

As the runner-up in the 2009 U.S. Amateur, Martin received exemptions into the 2010 Masters Tournament and U.S. Open. The experience of playing alongside the game's best players surely has the Greenwood, SC native at ease competing amongst his peers this week, and peers is exactly what he'll find in Saturday's final pairing.

At 22 years old, Martin will be the youngest member of the last threesome, with Woltman and Munson checking in at a youthful 23. If you're doing the math, that's a combined age of 68 for all three players. Perhaps the era of 20-something dominance is being ushered in this week in Greensboro.

First-round leader Edward Loar of Dallas, TX and former UNC-Greensboro golfer Nathan Stamey of Bluffton, SC are tied for fourth, two shots behind Munson at 14-under 202.

In total, there are 21 players within six shots of Munson's lead going into tomorrow's final round.

The final round of the Forest Oaks Classic will begin at 8:00 AM on Saturday morning, with players competing in threesomes and teeing off of Nos. 1 and 10. The tournament is open to the public and free of charge.