Trio tied before final day
Stricker, Alker and Jobe even after two rounds as Duke lurks close behind
THE WOODLANDS — Over a five-hole stretch covering the back nine, Brandt Jobe made birdie on each. But his most fortuitous shot came on his approach at the finishing hole. Steve Stricker wasn’t as fortunate on his second shot on No. 18.
Jobe’s ball stayed out of the water by making contact with the bulkhead, a retaining wall put in place to separate the course from the water hazard.
After hitting the wood portion, the ball rolled safely toward the pin and to the back of the green, where it stopped 12 feet short of the hole. Taking advantage of the good break, Jobe made the putt for his sixth birdie over seven holes to go to 12 under for the tournament and 8 under on the day.
“I had some fortunate things happen,” said Jobe, who carded a bogey-free 64. “But that’s kind of what you do when you shoot a low round.”
Playing two groups behind Jobe in the final grouping with Steven Alker and Ernie Els, Stricker salvaged a bogey-5 on the last hole after hitting into the right-side water, the same place Jobe avoided.
The turn of events left Jobe, Stricker and Alker tied atop the Insperity Invitational leaderboard following Saturday’s second round over The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course. They were four shots clear of Ken Duke, who occupies fourth place at 8 under after firing a 6-under-66.
Jobe made the turn at 2 under. He made his march toward the leaders by making birdie on holes 1216. He just missed a 10-footer for birdie on 17 before draining the birdie putt on 18 to close his round and position himself nicely heading into Sunday’s final 18 holes.
“I know you’re going to have to go low again,” Jobe said. “I’ll try hard and at least I’ve got an opportunity.”
Stricker opened with a 5-under-67 on Friday for a share of the lead. He was 8 under for the day on Saturday until he made his only bogey on 18.
“It was a good day,” said Stricker, who is tied with Jobe for most birdies (14) over two rounds. “Played really solid. A lot better today than I did yesterday except for a couple shots coming in.”
The wind caught Stricker’s approach on 18, directing the ball into the water. Following a drop, Stricker had 71 yards to the hole. He told his caddie Nicki (who is his wife), “Let’s just get it up and down and get out of here.”
Stricker converted the 2footer for bogey, avoiding a larger number.
“It was a good save,” said Stricker, who is recovering from an illness and playing in his first professional tournament since October. “When you can get a bogey after hitting it in the water it feels like you stole one.”
Jobe definitely stole a shot on 18. His tee ball found the left trees. He was hitting off roots for his second shot. He intended to land his ball on the front left of the green, but the ball went straight and hit the bulkhead, then stopped 12 feet from the pin, resulting in the birdie.
“It didn’t come off how I planned, but I was fortunate at the end,” said Jobe, seeking his third win on PGA Tour Champions.
Stricker was out in front of the pack for most of Saturday’s play. He led by as many as three shots after he pitched in from just off the 10th green for birdie-3 to reach 11 under.
But Alker, Friday’s coleader along with Stricker and Ernie Els, stayed within striking distance. Alker followed an opening 67 with a second-round 66.
“I was just trying to keep up with Steve Stricker,” said Alker, who recorded his ninth straight below par round and his second-lowest 36-hole score. “That’s basically it.”
Alker played par golf for seven holes. He birdied 8 and 9 as well as 11 and 12. He really got things rolling with eagles on the two par 5s on the back nine (13, 15).
“It kept my round going,” Alker said. “Kind of made my day. A momentum keeper. Just kept at it and pleased to make those couple eagles.”
If the leaders falter, Duke is lurking. He birdied the first three holes to jump-start his round.
“I just tried to keep the day going,” Duke said. “Everybody can play out here. We’re just trying to have fun and play as well as we can.”
Duke improved his score by four shots, opening on Friday with a 2-under-70.
“We need to move up the board a bit,” Duke said. “We’ve done that, and see what tomorrow brings.”
The three co-leaders tee off at 12:10 p.m. off No. 1 on Sunday.
“Stricker and Alker, both those guys, they just seem to play well,” Jobe said. “I’ll get a seat in that group and watch them.”