Santee, CA – At eGolf Tour West’s inaugural Championship at Carlton Oaks, Christopher Evans of Palm Desert, CA Daniel Miernicki of Santee, CA and Jake Sarnoff of Manhattan Beach, CA sit in a three-way tie for the 36-hole lead at a U.S. Open-like 3-under 141, all just 18 holes away from victory heading into Friday’s third and final round of the 54-hole event.

Evans, the tournament’s 18-hole leader after a 3-under 69 during Wednesday’s opening round at host Carlton Oaks Golf Club, sat at 5-under for the week heading into his final two holes on Thursday. The former Washington Husky proceeded to bogey 17 and 18 to fall from two clear back into a tie for the lead, in turn posting a second-round 72 to maintain at least a share of the overnight lead.

The Washington state native opened his season with top-15 finishes at the Golf Club of California Classic (T8) and Championship at Soboba Springs (T11) before adding a career-best T7 at last month’s Championship at Morongo.

Miernicki, a former star at the University of Oregon, opened his week with an even-par 72, then found himself at 1-over par through eight holes on day two following a double-bogey on the par-4 eighth. The Duck rallied thereafter, recording birdies on 11, 13, 14 and 15 en route to a 32 on his closing nine that rounded out a second-round 68.

Miernicki’s stellar, four-year campaign in Eugene was well-documented, with honorable-mention “All America” honors as a freshman, second-team honors as a sophomore, and first-team honors as a senior. A member of the 2010 U.S. Palmer Cup team, Miernicki made two starts on the PGA TOUR and one start on the Web.com Tour after graduating in 2012.

Sarnoff, 23, starred in college at Loyola Marymount prior to turning professional. The former Lion standout posted a 72 on day one at Carlton Oaks, then put forth one of Thursday’s better efforts, notching a one-bogey 69 to vault up to 3-under and into a tie for the lead.

The only player with a better second-round scorecard was Geoff Gonzalez of Diablo, CA, who recorded a bogey-free 68 to move to 2-under 142 – one shot back of the trio of co-leaders.

Final-round play in the Championship at Carlton Oaks will begin at 7:16 AM on Friday morning. The tournament is open to the public and free of charge.