US PGA TOUR REPORT AND SCOREBOARD
BEN CRANE STILL LEADING AND WEATHER STILL INTERRUPTING PLAY AT MEMPHIS
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FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By Sean Martin, PGATOUR.COM
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FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
MEMPHIS, Tennessee– The storyline has been the same for three days at
the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Ben Crane leads, while weather kept the
round from being completed.
Crane will have a four-shot lead when play resumes at 7 a.m. local time Sunday, but he’ll also have 30 holes remaining. He began his third round at 4:50 p.m. Saturday, more than 24 hours after completing his second-round 65, but started where he left off, making a 20-foot birdie putt to reach 13 under.
“That was a fun surprise,” he said. “I’m thankful it hit the hole.”
Crane made par on his next five holes before play was suspended at 6:49 p.m. Groups will not be re-paired between the third and fourth rounds.
Troy Merritt, who played seven holes of his third round in 2 under, is Crane’s closest pursuer at 9 under. Rookie Peter Malnati played seven holes of the third round in 1 under and is 8 under for the tournament. Merritt and Malnati have made just three cuts apiece this season.
This has been a trying season for Crane, who’s struggled with swing changes to alleviate pain in his back. He’s 150th in the FedExCup after posting just one top-10 in 16 starts this season.
“At the beginning of the week, I never thought I would have been here,” he said. He’s seeking his first victory since the 2011 McGladrey Classic.
Crane will have a four-shot lead when play resumes at 7 a.m. local time Sunday, but he’ll also have 30 holes remaining. He began his third round at 4:50 p.m. Saturday, more than 24 hours after completing his second-round 65, but started where he left off, making a 20-foot birdie putt to reach 13 under.
“That was a fun surprise,” he said. “I’m thankful it hit the hole.”
Crane made par on his next five holes before play was suspended at 6:49 p.m. Groups will not be re-paired between the third and fourth rounds.
Troy Merritt, who played seven holes of his third round in 2 under, is Crane’s closest pursuer at 9 under. Rookie Peter Malnati played seven holes of the third round in 1 under and is 8 under for the tournament. Merritt and Malnati have made just three cuts apiece this season.
This has been a trying season for Crane, who’s struggled with swing changes to alleviate pain in his back. He’s 150th in the FedExCup after posting just one top-10 in 16 starts this season.
“At the beginning of the week, I never thought I would have been here,” he said. He’s seeking his first victory since the 2011 McGladrey Classic.
ABNORMAL SCHEDULE: An 18-hole day has been anything but
standard for Troy Merritt this week. He played 36 holes Monday in his
unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open. He didn’t hit a
single shot Friday, then played 26 holes Saturday and faces another 28
on Sunday.
He said that leaving the hotel at 5:30 a.m. has been the hardest part.
“Other than that, I just hope to get it all in,” he said.
And he should. This could be an important week for the 28-year-old. He started the week at No. 194 in the FedExCup after making just three of 12 cuts this season.
“I've made a lot of putts," he said. "I think I've only missed two putts inside of 10 feet. Been rolling it well. Been keeping stupid in the bag pretty well and things have gone my way for the most part."
Merritt has pledged $100 per birdie to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He led the field with 15 birdies in the first two rounds, and made two in seven holes in the third round.
“It’s a little extra incentive," Merritt said. "It’s for a very good cause for the kids over at St. Jude’s.”
He said that leaving the hotel at 5:30 a.m. has been the hardest part.
“Other than that, I just hope to get it all in,” he said.
And he should. This could be an important week for the 28-year-old. He started the week at No. 194 in the FedExCup after making just three of 12 cuts this season.
“I've made a lot of putts," he said. "I think I've only missed two putts inside of 10 feet. Been rolling it well. Been keeping stupid in the bag pretty well and things have gone my way for the most part."
Merritt has pledged $100 per birdie to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He led the field with 15 birdies in the first two rounds, and made two in seven holes in the third round.
“It’s a little extra incentive," Merritt said. "It’s for a very good cause for the kids over at St. Jude’s.”
ROOKIE OFF SCHEDULE BUT FITTING IN: Peter Malnati is
contending in a US PGA Tour event for the first time. It’s a unique
position for the rookie at an event that’s had a unique
schedule.
Malnati, who’s in the second-to-last group, played seven holes of the third round Saturday, making one birdie and six pars. His group didn’t tee off until 4:40 p.m. local time.
“If anything, today was kind of cool because we went out there in the second-to-last group and it was kind of low-key because it was so late in the day, there wasn’t a lot going on,” Malnati said.
“It was probably helpful, honestly. What I need to do is to stay focused on my plan, and to have these distractions is just an added reminder to do that.”
Malnati shot 65 on Thursday, then didn’t hit a single shot Friday. He played his entire second-round 68 on Saturday morning, then started his third round.
“To get in this position I’m playing some good golf, so my confidence is pretty high and I believe in myself,” Malnati said. “For the first time all year, I feel like I belong there. There are some nerves, but I think that’s a good thing. I feel really composed.”
Malnati, who’s in the second-to-last group, played seven holes of the third round Saturday, making one birdie and six pars. His group didn’t tee off until 4:40 p.m. local time.
“If anything, today was kind of cool because we went out there in the second-to-last group and it was kind of low-key because it was so late in the day, there wasn’t a lot going on,” Malnati said.
“It was probably helpful, honestly. What I need to do is to stay focused on my plan, and to have these distractions is just an added reminder to do that.”
Malnati shot 65 on Thursday, then didn’t hit a single shot Friday. He played his entire second-round 68 on Saturday morning, then started his third round.
“To get in this position I’m playing some good golf, so my confidence is pretty high and I believe in myself,” Malnati said. “For the first time all year, I feel like I belong there. There are some nerves, but I think that’s a good thing. I feel really composed.”
HOW THE SCOTS FARED
137 Martin Laird 70 67
MISSED THE CUT (level par 140 and better qualified)
142 Russell Knox 72 70.
TO VIEW THE COMPLETED SCOREBOARD AND LIVE SCORING ON SUNDAY
CLICK HERE
137 Martin Laird 70 67
MISSED THE CUT (level par 140 and better qualified)
142 Russell Knox 72 70.
TO VIEW THE COMPLETED SCOREBOARD AND LIVE SCORING ON SUNDAY
CLICK HERE
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, June 08, 2014
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