WATERLOO - The pros, the fans and even the dress code that requires all golfers to wear pants … Those are just a few things University of Northern Iowa senior-to-be Kyle Bermel enjoys about playing as an amateur in Sunday's final round of the Waterloo Open.

Bermel made his fourth cut in five attempts Saturday at Gates Park, but never before has he been in this strong of a position to win the Amateur Division. The nephew of UNI golf coach John Bermel fired a 6-under-par 66 and holds a five-stroke lead over runner-up Nathan Leary with a two-day total of 137 (71-66).

"Wow," was Bermel's initial reaction upon learning the cushion he had built entering today's final round.

Bermel's desire to win this tournament was evident when he went to work Saturday at Gates Park after a 1-under-par 71 at South Hills.

"I loved the speed of the greens and I was excited about that coming over," Bermel said.

"I knew I could go low today, and the putter just got hot on the back nine so that helped."

After tapping in for birdie on the opening two holes, Bermel drained a 15-foot downhill putt to save par on No. 3. He had three birdies and one bogey on the front nine before finishing with four birdies on the back.

Bermel has breathing room over Leary, a 2006 state champion at Waterloo West and junior-to-be at Iowa State. Leary was among many golfers who took advantage of Saturday's favorable weather conditions that included little wind and temperatures in the upper 60s. He recovered from Friday's 4-over-par 76 at Gates with a 68 Saturday at South Hills.

One stroke back of Leary is former Dubuque Wahlert prep and current Western Illinois senior-to-be Jake Weeber. A model of consistency, Weeber had rounds of 71 and 72 en route to a two-day total of 143.

Should Bermel falter, a cast of contrasting characters are also within striking distance in a fourth-place tie at even-par 144. The group includes University of Central Florida junior-to-be Jed Dirksen (68-76), senior competitor Steve Kahler (76-68) and UNI baseball pitcher Derek Ott (72-72).

Dirksen, who entered Saturday with a three-stroke lead, struggled to find his touch on the greens at South Hills. He bogeyed three holes on the front nine and one on the back without carding a single birdie.

"If you get a feel for the greens earlier in the round, it makes things a lot easier and that's what I had at Gates," Dirksen said. "But here I just was leaving chips short, blowing them by, you name it."

For Ott, being tied for fourth heading into the final day of competition is something he never anticipated. Best known for his skills on the baseball field at Waterloo East and UNI, Ott entered the tournament just hoping to make the cut for the first time since 2005.

"This is more than I would have ever dreamed of," Ott said. "My dad asked me in the car on the ride home, 'Would you have taken two 72s before the Waterloo Open had even started?' I said, 'Hell yeah, I would have.'"

While today's script has yet to be written, the tournament is in Bermel's hands. For him, nothing can match Sunday at Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course.

"That's my favorite final day of the year, no doubt about it," he said. "Just being with those pros - those guys that can take it low any time they're on the golf course - is fun and exciting."

Waterloo Open

Amateur Division

*Golfers with scores of 152 or better made the cut

1. Kyle Bermel 71-66 - 137

2. Nathan Leary 74-68 - 142

3. Jake Weeber 71-72 - 143

T4. Steve Kahler 76-68 - 144

T4. Derek Ott 72-72 - 144

T4. Jed Dirksen 68-76 - 144

T7. Scott Morgensen 75-70 - 145

T7. Neil Doak 75-70 - 145

9. Troy Hoffman 72-74 - 146

T10. Marc Cahalan 75-72 - 147

T10. Alan Johnson 72-75 - 147

T10. Jim Campbell 73-74 - 147

148 - Shawn Curtis, Todd Mavis, Tyler Johnson, Nate Steege, Jeff Ott, Mark Leibfried.

149 - Jake Thomas.

150 - Brent Goodenow, Travis England, Justin Weber, Ryan Swenson, Sam Aossey, Mason Linn, Matt Solis.

151 - Craig Arthur, Ben Juffer, Eric Lindquist, JR Donlea, Jason Klein.

152 - Dan Holterhaus, Dan Mulligan, Blake Hibben, Brad Shatek, Matt Sargent, Jeff Gudenkauf, Danny Naughton, Doug Pierce.

153 - Michael McCunniff, Alex Hansche, Craig Linsday, Thomas Christensen, Robert Bruns.

154 - Ben Hanson, Paul Hanson, Paul Wurtz, Chris James, Braden Gaal, Travis Kress, Erik Feldick, Eric Sipple.

155 - Aaron Strike, Gary Wurtz, Jonathan Tink, Frank Schmidt, Cody Flatt, Eric Cannon, Ben Peterson, Justin Leas, Chris Reck, Jess Pekarek.

156 - Andy Schmitz, Brent Messmore, Kyle Phillips, Jeremy Carper, Matt Taylor, Andrew Peter, Nick McDermott, Andy Hoffman, BJ Meany, Andy Wass.

157 - Tom Przybylski, Tim Ward, Peter Duggan, Bill Fratzke, Ryan Ratchford, Tony Cahalan, Todd Van Wyngarden, Nathan Meisinger, Brent Quade, Joel Bruner, Robby Storm.

158 - Robby Storm, Ryan Horner, Ben Jordan, Mike Duea, Jordan Molstead, Andy Sirois, Joe Derby, Kevin Wilson, Doug Uridil, Brett DeNeve.

159 - Matt Fuelling, Cameron Satterlee, Johnathon Thompson, Brad Hoefing, DuWayne Wessels, Chuck Symonds, Dexter Wilson, Nicholas Dreckman, Matt VanScoyoc, Bryce Dengler, Mark Creveling.

160 - Owen Teeling, Drew Oetting, Barry Firman, Bradly Loughren, Marc Gladson, Ryan Ott, Joshua Schmidt, Todd Hintgen, Ryan Benes.

161 - Chad Wauters, Eric Anfinson, Jeff Kiewiet, Bennet Klostermann, Tommy Miller, Tommy Miller, Dan Sager.

162 - Michael Peter, Jacob Connor, Tim Fereday, Greg Engelkes, Tom Ward, Dennis Hunt, John Butler, David Akers, Marty Chute.

163 - Jim Johnson, Jay Hickman, Craig Kobliska, Brian Schall, Chuck Carda, Tony Meyer, Patrick Cook, Nickolas Hunke, Mike Leibfried, Parker Linn.

164 - Brad McCunniff, Mike Lamb, Jim Scheppele, Jeff Berndt.

165 - Robert McCloskey, Ben Bohlender, Joel Winters, Shaun Karch, Andy Young, Tim Van Wyngarden, Ryan Ruffcorn, Brian Ott.

166 - Randy Milby, Johnny Siela, Michael Kofta, Mike Schuchmann, Frank Green, Jeff Brown, Tom Staack, Nick Burry.

167 - KC Doland, Jacob Bermel, Aaron Lytle, Mike Athey, Travis Fell, Matt Dray, Tim Strebal, Kim Foss.

168 - Joe Engelkes, Joe Paxson, Eric Trees, Jason Jochumsen, Dan Bergeson, Dana Deines, Mike Shubert.

169 - Duane Gritton, JJ Johnson, Matt Thomas, Tim Felland, Terry Turner.

170 - Nathan Prter, Lee Przybylski, Jeff Smith, Andy Miller, Sean Seather, Carson Barron, Ryan Schaake, Jake Gardner, Jesse Truax.

171 - Mark Mershon, Scott Olson, Levi Gulick, Brent Estlund.

172 - Chris Kerr, Jason Bienemann, Nick Witthoft, Derrick Henry, Kevin Hinz.

173 - Tim Gillen, Parker Johnson, John Michel, Brandon Rogers, Robert Rietz

174 - Matt Brogan, Lindsay Burry.

175 - Elias Johnson, Jake Holmes, Dave Ramirez.

176 - Tom Erickson, Abby Bermel, Justin Smith, Tom Busch, Josh Witt.

177 - Steve Ferguson, Trent Jordan, Kevin Halbmeier, Jim Turner, Tim O'Brien.

178 - William Matthes, Gene McDaniel, Sam Voigt, Dan Holmes, Michael Newland, Bryce Vandendriessche, Wes Banken.

179 - Troy Davis, Cory Haberstich, Josh Hurtado, Chad Schuchmann, Taylor Heidbreder.

180 - Chris Wagner, Josh Dockum, Matthew Willer.

181 - Jacob Bedard, Don Neelans, Hunter Beck.

182 - Luke Lesyshen, Troy Birt, Adam Schaefer, Josh Grapp.

183 - Jim Wynn, Casey Gardner.

184 - Sam Christensen, Corey Lorenzen, James Thompson.

185 - Jake Schaefer.

186 - Eric Schaefer.

187 - Jeremy James, Joe Priebe, Jason Cashman, Jim Draude, Brian Green.

188 - Craig Rizner, John Spooner, John Morgan.

189 - Mike Lawrence, Jack Wanger, Andy Schmitz.

198 - Randrea Dray.

200 - Chris Van Spankeren, Larry Cannon.

206 - Chris Crowl.