Kirk takes 2-shot edge at Honda
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Chris Kirk’s last win on the PGA Tour was nearly eight years ago. He’s put himself in a position to change that at the Honda Classic.
Kirk battled his way to a 4-under round of 66 on Saturday, putting him at 13-under 197 for the week and giving him a twoshot lead over Eric Cole (66) through three rounds at PGA National.
His last win on tour was at Colonial in 2015 — 180 tournaments ago. He’s a four-time winner on tour, played in the Presidents Cup in 2015, and has been waiting to hoist a trophy again since.
Kirk made a wild birdie on the last, after his second shot on the par-5 18th wound up next to the grandstand and underneath someone’s bag that was left against the structure. He got a drop, chipped on from there and made the putt to restore a two-shot lead.
Cole stayed in the mix with his second consecutive round of 66.
“It’s awesome,” Cole said. “I’ve never played this event before. Tried to qualify a bunch of times . ... I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
Justin Suh holed out from the fairway for an eagle on the par-4 12th, and is alone in third at 10 under. He shot even-par 70 on Saturday.
LPGA: Thai rookie Natthakritta Vongtaveelap shot a bogey-free 64 to grab a four-stroke lead over countrywoman Atthaya Thitikul after round three of the $1.7 million LPGA Thailand.
DP World: Yannik Paul's lead at the Hero Indian Open was trimmed from five shots to one after the third round of the European tour event. Paul, who shot a 1-under 71 to move to 11 under overall, is one ahead of fellow German Marcel Siem.
LIV: Talor Gooch made a 4-foot birdie putt on his final hole to tie Peter Uihlein for the lead in a LIV Golf season debut at Mayakoba that looks to be an Oklahoma State alumni reunion. They were teammates at Oklahoma State — Uihlein was a junior having won the U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay when Gooch was a freshman. They were at 9-under 133, one shot ahead of Charles Howell III (66), who played for the Cowboys more than a decade earlier.