UT’s Hammer able to make cut

The second round of the Houston Open wasn’t finished until Saturday morning to determine the cut line because 59 players had to complete their 36 holes. Amateur Cole Hammer of Houston made the cut on the number at even par, allowing him to play two more rounds in only his second PGA Tour event, and first since qualifying for the 2015 U.S. Open as a 15-year-old.

“I was excited,” said Hammer, a sophomore golfer at the University of Texas, who posted rounds of 67-77 over the first two rounds over the Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston. “I had a great start (Thursday), it was a grind in the second round.

“I was fortunate enough to make it through. It’s a great feeling playing the weekend in my hometown event. All in all, it’s awesome. Sure, I would have liked to have played better (Friday) afternoon. I played well in the third round. It just sucks to make double to finish up.”

Hammer shot an evenpar 72 in Saturday’s third round, which included a double-bogey 5 on his final hole, No. 9. His round consisted of 15 pars, two birdies and a double bogey.

Hammer has made only four bogeys for the tournament, but has carded four double bogeys.

“I got to get control of those,” Hammer said. “I normally don’t make big numbers, but I’ve had far too many doubles this week and that’s going to cost you out here. There’s no question about it because every shot counts.”

Wu making a good debut

Brandon Wu, who is making his professional debut at the Houston Open, has hit a good number of greens in regulation this week. In the process, he’s been getting his share of birdies, and it’s his ability to save par and not give up shots that has him in a share of sixth place at 8-under after Saturday’s third round.

Wu, who led Stanford to the 2019 NCAA team championship, has been consistent. His 69 on Saturday followed rounds of 69-70.

“Driving it in the fairway is the biggest plus out here,” Wu said. “I think

I’ve only hit a couple (shots) from the rough all week and that’s the key to playing well out here.”

Wu’s four bogeys over three days is the least amount in the field, joining Cole Hammer, Cameron Tringale, Kramer Hickok and Robert Garrigus.

On Saturday, Wu parred his first six holes before making birdie-2 on No. 7. He made three more birdies on the back nine to get to 9 under before making bogey on the par 3 16th hole.

Wu played in the 2019 U.S Open, where he finished 35th, and the 2019 British Open as an amateur.

“I can definitely compete out here,” Wu said. “So that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Malnati watches his streak end

After shooting a bogeyfree 7-under 65 on Friday to vault to a two-shot lead after the second round, Peter Malnati couldn’t sustain that bogey-free streak on Saturday.

Malnati bogeyed his first hole on Saturday and bogeyed holes 3 and 5 en route to a 1-over 73 that left him at 9 under and in a share of third place heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I shot over par, which is disappointing,” Malnati said. “I fell down the leaderboard a little, which is also disappointing. But I felt like in the middle of the round I played great and didn’t get a ton out of it. It felt good and I’m excited about tomorrow.”

This is Malnati’s third Houston Open and the first time he’s made the cut here.

“I’m already way better than what I’ve done here before, so it’s great,” Malnati said.

Odds and ends

Several name players failed to make the 36-hole cut after the second round wasn’t completed until Saturday morning. Among those who did not advance to Saturday’s third round were Henrik Stenson, Jhonattan Vegas, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Daniel Berger and Hunter Mahan (9-over). … For the second straight round, the 454-yard par-4 No. 18 hole played as the toughest at 4.474 strokes. During Friday’s second round, the hole played to a 4.833 scoring average. The 578yard par-5 No. 13 hole played the easiest hole Saturday at 4.397. … Most recent third-round leader or co-leader to win the Houston Open was Ian Poulter in 2018.