HONOLULU — Hayden Buckley started the back nine with the Eagles at Waialae on Saturday and finished second in a row at 6-under 64, trailing by two and creating some separation heading into the final round of the Sony Open. rice field.
Buckley hit a wedge from 133 yards on the 10th hole. He ended the day with a two-foot approach on the par-5 18th hole.
He went 15-under 195 and his two-shot lead may have been the biggest surprise in the third round when he took the lead in an eight-way tie at one point.
Buckley still has a long way to go. In his second year on the PGA Tour, he had never finished first in any round. And five players are within three shots of him in the lead on a tour that seems to have no safe lead. Just last week, his two-time major champion Korin Morikawa lost his six-shot lead on his back nine at Kapalua.
Nine of Waialae’s top 15 players have never won a PGA Tour.
Buckley was led by Chris Kirk (68), Ben Taylor (65) and David Lipsky (66). A Californian who spent most of his career in Asia.
Having finished runner-up two years earlier, Kirk was able to start the third round with a one-shot lead and good vibes to keep his full status on the Tour. His first shot sailed towards the houses on the right side of the first fairway, went out of bounds and double-bogeyed.
From there, he was solid, but missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th, which kept him out of the final group.
Lipsky knows that feeling. His first drive went left, bounced along the cement trail on the right side of the driving range, and settled outside the white stakes. He was able to limit his damage to a bogey when he made his 25-foot putt. He then got on his second green with two chips and hit another bogey before scoring seven birdies.
“When your ball goes 50 yards down the OB’s path, it’s never ideal,” Lipsky said. “I’m very happy with how I played and how he handled his first two holes.”
The third round wasn’t as weird as it was on Friday — Jordan Spieth missed a cut from his share of the lead, and Rory Sabatini was one off the lead with three consecutive double bogeys — making another 18 For those trying to win for the first time, the hole can feel like a marathon.
South Korean rookie SH Kim made four birdies in a row to take the lead on the turn. And on his 10th hole, his third easiest at Waialae, he was his 124 yards from the middle of the fairway and made a double his bogey.
Byeong Hun An had a 66 and tied for 16th, six shots behind. This also includes his quad bogey 8 on the 10th hole. Anne chased the backpin, muffed the chip, and twice slid a wedge under the ball sitting in the thick grass. he was a mess
Andrew Putnam and Nick Taylor each won 62, the low round of the tournament. This put Putnam within three shots of the lead. Taylor made his cut 36 holes and entered the final day five strokes behind.
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