Maggert enjoys shot of confidence
Local favorite birdies 18, forges tie with Parnevik
THE WOODLANDS — Hometown favorite Jeff Maggert really didn’t need his putter on the final hole, but Jesper Parnevik did.
The result of Maggert’s kick-in birdie and Parnevik’s par save on the difficult 18th hole on the Tournament Course at The Woodlands Country Club means players from a world apart will go into Sunday’s final round of the Insperity Invitational tied for the lead at 7-under 137.
Maggert, the former Texas A&M Aggie who grew up playing the course as a junior and almost won the Shell Houston Open here in 1996, nearly holed his 5-iron approach shot on the difficult par-4 18th, leaving just a couple of inches for a birdie and a round of 69. Swede’s perseverance
Parnevik, the Swede who never played the Houston Open when it was staged in The Woodlands for nearly three decades until 2002, had a streaky day with the putter, but calmly made his clutch putt on the 18th for a 68.
Maggert enters Sunday’s final round with confidence; Parnevik is happy to find his game.
“I hit the ball great,” said Maggert, who felt the course and gusting winds made the course play harder Saturday than it was Friday when he opened with 68. “I didn’t struggle with the ball-striking.
“I was trying to press a little on the back nine, trying to make up a little ground, but it was (all) good.”
Parnevik, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour who is playing in his first full season on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, is just glad to be in contention once again after struggling with injuries the last few years. He missed a few short putts Saturday, but made two from long range, including a 40-footer for the only eagle in the tournament on the par-5 13th.
“I wouldn’t say I’m full of confidence, but I‘m happy to have a chance to win,” said Parnevik, ad- mitting the seniors circuit is harder than he thought it would be.
It’s a bunched-up leader board that has a dozen players within three shots of each other. First-round leader Mike Goodes, who opened with a 66, was 7 under par and in the lead but settled for a second-round 72 in third place, one shot back.
Four players are two shots behind Maggert and Parnevik at 5 under, including David Frost, who bounced back from a dou- ble bogey on the second hole to fire 70.
Frost, who is from South Africa, played conservatively Saturday, knowing he just needed to hang in there to have a chance to win Sunday.
“You can tell by the scores, it’s tough making birdies,” said Frost, who did take one chance by hitting the island green par-5 13th in two to make birdie. “It’ll be an exciting day tomorrow.”
Frost is tied with Grant Waite, Michael Allen and Glen Day; five other players are three back at 4 under. Daly falls to 21st
John Daly, making his Champions debut this week, dropped back into a tie for 21st after four straight bogeys on holes eight through 11 led to a second-round 1-over-par 73 and 1 under par overall going into the final round.
Daly, who played in four pro-ams last week, participated in various promotions for the tournament and for sponsor Loudmouth golf apparel, said it has been a long week and planned to get plenty of rest before Sunday’s final round.