Matt Kuchar shot a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to extend his lead in the Sony Open on Saturday at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.
He’ll go into Sunday’s final round at 18-under 192 with a two-shot edge over Andrew Putnam, whose strong start allowed him to tie for the lead early in the third round.
The 40-year-old Kuchar was three-under on the front side and regained the top spot. He ended the round with six consecutive pars.
Kuchar will aim for his second championship in about two months after winning the Mayakoba Golf Classic in November in Mexico.
Kuchar opened with consecutive rounds of 63 this week. He excelled with the irons again Saturday, leaving himself birdie putts of reasonable length.
Putnam pulled even with Kuchar with three birdies in the first five holes. He had a shot for another birdie on No. 6, but his chip from the fringe sat just outside the cup. That would have made for birdies on three consecutive holes.
Keith Mitchell and Chez Reavie share third place at 14-under. Mitchell played a bogey-free round of 63, including four straight birdies on Nos. 7-10.
Reavie (66), who had three eagles Friday, was five-under through nine holes of Saturday’s round. Then he went through a three-over stretch from Nos. 11-13 before regrouping for two birdies the rest of the way.
Bryson DeChambeau made a move with 63, tying his best score on the PGA Tour. He opened the round with birdies on each of the first three holes.
He’s among a cluster of golfers at 11-under.
Corey Conners, Davis Love III, Charles Howell III, Dominic Bozzelli and Brian Stuard will all begin the final round tied at 11-under. They all checked in with 64s.
Hudson Swafford (67), Ted Potter Jr. (68) and Marc Leishman (68) are also in the bunch at 11-under.
Source: Read Full Article