PGA Tour: Kisner eyes first win after string of seconds
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA.— Kevin Kisner had a 6-under 64 on Saturday to build a three-shot lead in the RSM Classic as he goes for his first win on the PGA Tour.
Already a runner-up four times this year — three in playoffs — Kisner has never had a chance this good.
Kisner made his only bogey of the round on No. 14 and failed to make birdie on the par-5 15th to fall into a tie for the lead with Kevin Chappell. He answered with a key shot that set up birdie, a 6-iron into a foot at the par-3 17th and a 30-foot birdie on the 18th to build some separation.
Kisner was at 16-under 196, a record 54-hole score at Sea Island.
Chappell overcame back-to-back bogeys early in his round for a 68. He also is going for his first PGA Tour win.
Graeme McDowell survived a mental blunder on the opening hole and was four shots back with a chance to win back-to-back on the PGA Tour. On the first fairway, he lifted his ball to clean it when he realized that for the first time this week at Sea Island, conditions no longer allowed for lift, clean and place. McDowell was penalized one shot and made a 10foot putt that became a par with the penalty.
He had his caddie carry the tees in his bib so he wouldn’t make the mistake again.
And that was the last mistake on the golf course, as the former U.S. Open champion again kept the ball in play off the tee and made his share of putts for a 65.
Alex Ceja had his third straight 67 and was the only other player within five shots of the lead. Brantford’s David Hearn also had a 67 and was tied for seventh at 9-under.
Kisner is looking at his last chance to win in the final round of the year on the PGA Tour.
“What I’ve learned is you just can’t hold back on this tour,” Kisner said. “Any time you think you’re doing great, somebody else is, too. I’m just going to try to keep making birdies. I’ll put a number of 20, 21 (under) in my head and see if they can catch that one.”
McDowell was in full reverse this year until he slowly began turning it around, and he won Monday in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba.