New Orleans: Overnight leader Lucas Glover, bidding for his fourth PGA Tour title, survived a back nine wobble to move two strokes clear after yesterday’s third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in Avondale, Louisiana.
At one point three ahead of the chasing pack, former U.S. Open champion Glover bogeyed the 14th and 17th in breezy conditions before signing off in style with a two-putt birdie at the par-five last.
In pursuit of his first PGA Tour victory in nearly two years, the 33-year-old carded a two-under-par 70 to post a 14-under total of 202 at the TPC Louisiana.
“The wind picked up a little bit more than was forecast,” Glover told Golf Channel about the tougher conditions facing the late starters on a mainly overcast afternoon. “There was a bunch of good scores earlier and we knew that.
“I knew there were some birdies there, I just didn’t take as much of an advantage as I should have.”
Fellow Americans Kyle Stanley (65), Jimmy Walker (66), Billy Horschel (66) and D.A. Points (70) were tied for second at 12 under with burly compatriot Kevin Stadler a further stroke back after matching the day’s best score with a nine-birdie 65.
British world number four Justin Rose, the highest-ranked player in the field, was five off the pace after returning a 70 with defending champion Jason Dufner a further shot back at eight under, after a 67.
Twenty-eight players are within six strokes of the lead heading into Sunday’s final round but Glover, who clinched his only major title at the 2009 U.S. Open, remains in command.
“Tee to green is pretty good, although today wasn’t as good as the first two days, and my irons were okay,” Glover said of his overall game. “I hit some loose shots today.
“I had a few mis-reads and my (putting) speed was a little off today. I left a bunch of 10, 12-footers short.”
While Glover was delighted to be contending for first PGA Tour title since the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship, he and his wife Krista are excitedly expecting their first child.
“Any day now,” he smiled. “I don’t care when the phone rings, I will be out of here for that. We’re at 37 weeks and I can’t wait. We are thrilled.”
China’s 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, who once again stunned the golfing world by making his second consecutive cut on the PGA Tour this week, battled to a five-over 77 to finish at two-over 218, stone.
“I just didn’t do very good in the morning and was definitely in trouble with my driver,” Guan said after mixing three birdies with five bogeys and an ugly triple at the sixth” REUTERS
