Séamus Power couldn’t find the form that saw him go three-under in Thursday’s first round at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, as the 39-year-old posted another one-over-par round on Saturday to drop to T70 at one-under.
Power endured a shaky start at Dunes Golf and Beach Club, starting his round with a bogey at the first and followed it up with a double bogey at the third. The Waterford man bounced back with a birdie at the fourth but again lacked some consistency off the tee, as he made back-to-back bogeys at the sixth and seventh to take the turn at four-over-par.
Power was a different man on the back nine as he seemed to have tidied it up at the tee box. The two-time PGA Tour winner birdied the 10th after driving it to just off the green before adding another birdie at the par-5 15th.
Power saved his best work until the last – splitting the 18th fairway before sticking a wedge to five feet to tap in for a three. The back nine resuscitation saw him limit the earlier damage, posting a one-over-par 72.
At the top of leaderboard, USA’s Mark Hubbard takes the lead into the final round as he posted a bogey-free seven-under to lead by one at 16-under.
Hubbard was electric on the back nine, making four birdies in a row between holes 14 and 17.
“I felt like I had some of the best ball control I’ve had all season, maybe my whole career today, but I felt like I was kind of leaving a few out there in the middle of the round,” said Hubbard.
According to Hubbard, keeping a consistent attitude is key for his chances of securing his first PGA TOUR win on Sunday.
“I can’t promise that it’s going to be great tomorrow, and I can’t promise that it’s going to be great the rest of the year, but I know I’m going to keep trying to work on it, because I do feel like that was one of the things that was holding me back this year in particular,” he added.
England’s Aaron Rai occupies second place heading into the final round as he sits just one back from Hubbard at 15-under. Rai was the 36-hole leader and pieced together a steady five-under-par 66 – making six birdies and a bogey.
Speaking on his chances for a result on Sunday, Rai said; “I think every situation is quite unique. There were definitely some really good things that I can draw on through doing well in the past in this position, also through not doing so well in the past. I think both sides of that experience are important.”
“But, again, it doesn’t mean anything really for tomorrow. It’s going to be a fresh day. I’m sure there are going to be some different situations that unfold,” he added.
Brooks Koepka, with his best chance at winning since returning to the PGA TOUR from LIV Golf, began the day out of the top 20 and at least gave himself a chance, five shots behind in T7.
“If I can continue to do what I did today as far as ball-striking, which I feel like I’ve done over the past three months, it’s just a matter of getting that putter heated up,” Koepka said. “I feel like I’m striking it as good as I ever have, driving it as good as I ever have. If I can continue to do that, then I’m going to be very pleased where I’m at for a while.”
Leave a comment