HADLEY LEADS FROM KIWI LEE GOING
INTO FINAL ROUND AT SAN JUAN
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
For the first time since 2010, the US PGA Tour didn't see a rookie claim a title in January or February. The drought without a first-year member notching a victory may come to an end, like it did that year, in Puerto Rico this weekend.
Web.com Tour graduate and PGA Tour rookie Chesson Hadley carded a bogey-free 67 Saturday to take a one-shot lead over fellow-graduate and second-time Tour member New Zealander Danny Lee (66) after 54 holes of the Puerto Rico Open.
Hadley hit 17 greens in regulation but made just one birdie in his last 11 holes.
"It was frustrating, to be honest with you," Hadley said. "I missed quite a few putts, a lot of putts the last 11 holes, but you know what, we're right where we need to be. I'm leading, and you know, that's great."
This won't be the first time Hadley and Lee have battled down the stretch on a Sunday. Last May, at the Rex Hospital Open, Hadley tracked down 54-hole leader Lee with a closing 64 to win in his hometown.
Hadley went on to win the Web.com Tour Championship last season while Lee is still searching for his first title in a US PGA Tour-sanctioned event since the 2011 WNB Golf Classic on the Web.com Tour that helped him to his first stint on the US PGA Tour.
"Danny and I are great friends and we're going to have a blast," Hadley said of Sunday's final pairing. "I think we're playing twosomes tomorrow, so we'll have a blast out there, and hopefully we can kind of duel it out."
It's hardly a two-man race in Puerto Rico, however. Jason Gore (66) and Jonathan Byrd (67) are tied for third, just two off the pace. Another shot back are Carl Pettersson (66), Jerry Kelly (67) and David Toms (67) on a course where 15 players were 5-under or better on Saturday.
Hadley, who has been bogey-free 11-under over his last 28 holes remains in the driver's seat, but knows he can't relax on Sunday.
"I'm going to go at just about every flag (on Sunday)," he said. "You gotta stay aggressive out here. I've learned that. You know, for me, if I kind of take the foot off the pedal a little bit, I'll kind of lose focus and you know, I won't be as sharp as I would like to be, so I plan on being really aggressive, and you know, if I can shoot another 5, 6, 7‑under tomorrow, I think we'll be in good shape."
Hadley has two top 10s in 10 TOUR starts on his rookie season with a tie for fifth at October's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open his best showing.
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INTO FINAL ROUND AT SAN JUAN
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
For the first time since 2010, the US PGA Tour didn't see a rookie claim a title in January or February. The drought without a first-year member notching a victory may come to an end, like it did that year, in Puerto Rico this weekend.
Web.com Tour graduate and PGA Tour rookie Chesson Hadley carded a bogey-free 67 Saturday to take a one-shot lead over fellow-graduate and second-time Tour member New Zealander Danny Lee (66) after 54 holes of the Puerto Rico Open.
Hadley hit 17 greens in regulation but made just one birdie in his last 11 holes.
"It was frustrating, to be honest with you," Hadley said. "I missed quite a few putts, a lot of putts the last 11 holes, but you know what, we're right where we need to be. I'm leading, and you know, that's great."
This won't be the first time Hadley and Lee have battled down the stretch on a Sunday. Last May, at the Rex Hospital Open, Hadley tracked down 54-hole leader Lee with a closing 64 to win in his hometown.
Hadley went on to win the Web.com Tour Championship last season while Lee is still searching for his first title in a US PGA Tour-sanctioned event since the 2011 WNB Golf Classic on the Web.com Tour that helped him to his first stint on the US PGA Tour.
"Danny and I are great friends and we're going to have a blast," Hadley said of Sunday's final pairing. "I think we're playing twosomes tomorrow, so we'll have a blast out there, and hopefully we can kind of duel it out."
It's hardly a two-man race in Puerto Rico, however. Jason Gore (66) and Jonathan Byrd (67) are tied for third, just two off the pace. Another shot back are Carl Pettersson (66), Jerry Kelly (67) and David Toms (67) on a course where 15 players were 5-under or better on Saturday.
Hadley, who has been bogey-free 11-under over his last 28 holes remains in the driver's seat, but knows he can't relax on Sunday.
"I'm going to go at just about every flag (on Sunday)," he said. "You gotta stay aggressive out here. I've learned that. You know, for me, if I kind of take the foot off the pedal a little bit, I'll kind of lose focus and you know, I won't be as sharp as I would like to be, so I plan on being really aggressive, and you know, if I can shoot another 5, 6, 7‑under tomorrow, I think we'll be in good shape."
Hadley has two top 10s in 10 TOUR starts on his rookie season with a tie for fifth at October's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open his best showing.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Published by scottishgolfview.com