Schauffele holds Kapalua lead
Xander Schauffele closed with three pars for a 2-under 71 to keep a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Hawaii.
Justin Thomas, who won at Kapalua three years ago, ran off five birdies on the front nine to take the lead until his first three-putt bogey of the week on the 12th hole. He misjudged the wind on another 6-foot par putt at the 17th and failed to birdie the par-5 18th for a 38 on the back nine. That gave him a 69 and a sour taste.
Thomas will be in the final group as he goes for his third win in his last seven starts on the PGA Tour. But he typically scores well on the back nine, and he lost ground on this day.
“I’m not very pleased,“Thomas said, speaking more to the finish than his 54-hole position.
Joaquin Niemann, who opened with a 7-under 66 on Thursday, failed to birdie the two par 5s and made bogeys on the two par 4s between them. He shot 39 on the back and had to settle for a 74, leaving him four shots behind.
Patrick Reed had a 74, eight shots worse than his round Friday, and he was in the group four shots behind.
Schauffele was at 11under 212, the highest 54-hole score to lead at Kapalua since Vijay Singh was at 11 under in 2007.