Fowler grabs one-shot lead at Wells Fargo
WASHINGTON: Rickie Fowler fired six birdies in a four-under-par 68 on Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Fowler, who captured his first PGA on the same Quail Hollow course in 2012, had a nine-under par total of 207.
“The course dried out and played much faster, so 68 is a really good round out there,” Fowler said. “The only two bogeys I made, I just missed putts and didn’t get up-anddown for par.
“I had a good warm-up, hit a good drive on the first hole and just went from there.”
Fowler, who won at Quail Hollow in 2012 and will defend his title next week in the Players Championship, took charge with three straight birdies through the 16th hole and his second straight 68.
Fowler has won once this year, on the European Tour, and had a play-off loss in the US at the Phoenix Open.
Fellow American Roberto Castro bogeyed Quail Hollow’s difficult 18th to cap a 71 that left him one adrift on 208.
England’s Justin Rose made two late birdies in a 69 and was two shots behind in a tie for third with James Hahn, who made three straight birdies through No.16, but made bogey on the penultimate hole in a 68.
A double-bogey at 18 saw overnight leader Andrew Loupe post a 74 that left him on 201, level with Scott Langley who carded a 71.
Tim Wilkinson of New Zealand and Lucas Glover both shot 70 and were three strokes behind in a tie for seventh, and Retief Goosen of South Africa was five shots back in solo ninth after a 71.