Schauffele’s lead down to one shot
CROMWELL, Conn. — Xander Schauffele was prophetic.
After Schauffele posted his second consecutive 63 on Friday at the Travelers Championship to get to 14-under and take a five-shot lead into the weekend, he said: “This is a course that’s giving up some birdies, and if you’re leading the pack and you get kind of comfortable people are going to hunt you down.’’
Well, the hunt continued in earnest Saturday in the third round, with a flurry of players making spirited runs at Schauffele at TPC River Highlands.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy to protect a lead, especially when it’s five shots and it’s easy to get comfortable,’’ Schauffele said after shooting 67 in the third round. “It’s easy to hit it to 30 feet out here with a wedge, but that’s just not going to be enough to win. So, I got to make a few more birdies [Sunday].’’
Schauffele got to 17-under, but watched his five-shot lead melt to just one shot in the searing Connecticut heat.
His primary pursuer was Patrick Cantlay, who was Schauffele’s playing partner when they won the Zurich Classic together in the spring, and his playing partner on Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams.
Cantlay shot the day’s low round of 63 to get to 16-under and trails Schauffele by a mere shot. So, the two will be paired together — but pitted against each other this time — in the final group on Sunday.
“It will be fun,’’ Schauffele said. “I’ve been looking forward to playing with Pat in a final round. We don’t get paired together very often in regular tournaments, only in those team ones. So, there’s a certain level of comfort we have playing with each other and hopefully that pays off and hopefully we can make a lot of birdies.’’
Schauffele’s assessment of Cantlay’s game: “He’s surgical, does all the things really well, very steady. He just doesn’t make many mistakes, so I’m going to have to make more birdies.’’
Cantlay on Schauffele’s game: “He’s very consistent. I think you saw that [Saturday]. Even when he hit a loose shot ... he didn’t let that affect him, didn’t make too many mistakes. He closed with a few birdies [on Nos. 16 and 17]. So, I expect a great challenge out there.’’
Sahith Theegala, who posted 64 to get to 14-under, is three shots back. Kevin Kisner shot 66 and is 13-under and four back. Martin Laird shot 66 to get to 12-under, along with K.H. Lee.
The shocker of day — and the tournament — has been Michael Thorbjornsen, a 20year-old amateur from Wellesley, Mass., who’s 11-under and six shots back after shooting 66 on Saturday. He’s tied with Webb Simpson, J.T. Poston and Nick Hardy.
➤ Chris Gotterup, the Little Silver, N.J. native, shot an even-par 70 Saturday and stands at 4-under, tied for 42nd entering the final round.