SAN MARTIN, United States: Brooks Koepka fired a four-under 67 yesterday to take his lead to two strokes after three rounds of the Frys.com Open, where he’s seeking a first US PGA Tour title.
The 23-year-old, who has European Tour status after winning three times this year on Europe’s Challenge Tour developmental circuit, had six birdies and two bogeys to build a 54-hole total of 15-under 198, two strokes in front of George McNeill and Jason Kokrak.
Kokrak carded a 68 while McNeill climbed the leaderboard with a course-record equaling nine-under par 62 for 200.
Jimmy Walker also notched a 62 at CordeValle Golf Club, and was in a group on 201 alongside former world number one and three-time major champion Vijay Singh of Fiji and American Robert Garrigus.
Singh posted a 65, while Garrigus carded a 68.
While Koepka’s success on the Challenge Tour has earned his playing privileges on the European Tour, the Floridian could earn US PGA Tour status with a win today.
The $5m tournament, formerly part of the season-ending “Fall Finish,” is this year the first event in the US Tour’s new-style 2013-2014 season, with FedEx Cup play-off points on offer and a Masters berth for the winner.
“I’ve just got to approach it the same way,” Koepka told the Golf Channel of his strategy for the final day. AFP
