A wet and windy Sedgefield Country Club in North Carolina provided a delay ridden third round on Saturday as the field had to postpone their rounds twice due to the conditions but 36-hole leader Beau Hossler battled the elements to share the lead into the final round alongside Michael Brennan.
Hossler is No. 122 in the FedExCup, knowing his only mathematical chance to be among the top 70 to advance to the playoffs is to win for the first time on the PGA TOUR.
Hossler went two-under on both nines for a four-under-par 66 to take him to 16-under. The 31-year-old may feel hard done by as he was leading until a 30-minute delay due to the storms. Hossler returned to three-putt from 30 feet for bogey on the par-3 16th hole – ending his 31 hole bogey-free streak.
After the return of play, the rough played much tougher due to the rain and his tee ball at 17 found the thick stuff – only for another 90 minute delay to ensue to make matters worse. Hossler did very well to par from there.
Walking off the 18th, Hossler said; “That might be the hardest two-putt on the PGA TOUR right there. Was really glad to get that down in two and give myself a chance for tomorrow. But very chaotic day, and just glad to make it through.”
“I’ve played a lot of good golf in my career. I’ve won a lot of golf tournaments. I haven’t done it at this level yet. I know it’s going to be a challenge,” he added. “Even par is not going to cut it tomorrow, so I need to come out from the first hole and be looking to get the ball in play off the tee and give myself birdie looks.”
Michael Brennan went bogey free in his seven-under-par§ 63 round to sit alongside Hossler. Brennan, at 105th in the standings, could finish in a three-way tie for second and still have a mathematical chance at the top 70.
“I know where I need to be. I know what I need to do. I know I’m going to be thinking about it,” he said. “Just get myself to come back to the golf I’m playing.”
Scottish Open winner Tom Kim also posted a bogey free 63 to climb 11 places on moving day and sit one back from the leaders at 15-under.
Kim sits well inside the top-70 but will no doubt be looking to become accustomed to that winning feeling with a big performance on Sunday.
Alex Smalley and Alex Noren hold T4 at 14-under, followed by Davis Thompson. Thompson entered this week 81st in the standings and will be hoping that his albatross at the par-5 fifth hole will boost him into the playoffs. Thompson finished 71st in the standings this time one year ago, missing the playoffs by five points.
“Making an albatross usually helps get things going,” Thompson said. “It’s my fourth year on TOUR and two of the three years I’ve been right on the bubble, so I’ve got experience with it.”
Englishman Jordan Smith made a hole-in-one at the par-3 16th which will more than help his cause in remaining in the top-70. He sits T8 at 11-under after entering the week at 68th.
Leave a comment