‘Wild day’ ends with four-way tie at AT&T
BETHESDA, Md. — Roberto Castro went from a share of the lead to five shots behind in three holes. He finished the third round of the AT&T National by hitting a 5-iron left of the 18th green and into the water. And he still managed to be part of a four-way tie for the lead. “Wild day,” he said. Not just for Castro. It was like that for just about everyone Saturday at Congressional.
Bill Haas hit a wedge into the water and made triple bogey on the 11th hole to fall f ive shots behind. Four holes and three birdies later, he had the outright lead. He was helped by Andres Romero, who squandered a threeshot lead in two holes by hitting his tee shot into a creek.
With all that action, James Driscoll must have felt as if he missed out on all the fun. All he did was post his third straight round in the 60s to join the leaders.
Castro put the perfect finishing touch on a theatrical afternoon by taking his penalty drop from the water on No. 18 and chipping in from 80 feet for par. That enabled him to salvage an even-par 71 and claim a share of the lead with Haas (68), Driscoll (68) and Romero, who closed with six pars for a 70.“
Saving a bogey would have been huge,” Castro said. “Making a par is just a bonus.”
They were at 7-under 206, which means next to nothing, not with 10 players separated by three shots going into the final round, with seven of those players looking for their first PGA Tour victory.
“This is as good a chance as I’ve had for sure,” Driscoll said. “But there’s still 18 holes to go.”
Still in the mix is 19-year- old Jordan Spieth, who had a two-shot lead after opening with a pair of birdies. He also went through a five-hole stretch when he missed five putts inside 8 feet including a three-putt from 5 feet for double bogey on No. 8. The Texas teen had a 74, though he’s still in the game, just three shots behind.
“Making a double on the easiest hole on the course, and then following up with bogey on a par 5 with a lob wedge in my hand, it was very difficult at the turn for me to stay calm and hit good shots to start the back nine,” Spieth said. “Maybe lost a couple of shots with my emotions there, which is upsetting. But like I said, I shot 5 under yesterday. I could shoot 5 under tomorrow and be in great position.”
Jason Kokrak had a 70 and was one shot out of the lead, while Charlie Wi had a 29 on the front nine and shot 65 to finish two shots behind, along with Tom Gillis (66). Spieth was in the group at 209 with Brandt Snedeker, who had a 69.
OTHER TOURNAMENTS
U. S Women’s Open at Southampton, N.Y.: Inbee Park is one round from making history by winning the first three majors of the year.
The top-ranked Park had a four-stroke lead through three rounds at the U.S. Women’s Open.
She shot 1-under 71 on Saturday in harsh conditions at Sebonack and was 10 under for the tournament. Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim had a 73 to remain in second but lost two strokes to Park. With the wind whipping, the greens fast and the pin placements tricky, Park was the only player to shoot under par for the round. No one has ever won the first three majors in a year when there were at least four.
England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff (74) was third at 3 under.
Senior Players Championship at Pittsburgh: Fred Couples shot an 8-under 62 to take a four-shot lead over John Huston at the midway point.
Couples finished the rain-delayed second round at Fox Chapel Golf Club early Saturday morning with a 36-hole score to 12 under. It’s the second straight year the Hall of Famer has taken the lead at the midway point of one of the Champions Tour’s biggest events.
The 62 tied a Champions Tour record for lowest round in a major, last matched by Olin Browne during the 2012 Senior Players.
Couples was 7 under through 11 holes on Friday before rain interrupted play. He two-putted for par from 60 feet on the par-3 third when play resumed at 8 a.m. Saturday. Five more pars followed before he finished up with a birdie on the par-4 ninth to reach 12-under.
Huston shot 3-under 67 and is at 8 under as he pursues his first major title.
Irish Open at Maynooth, Ireland: Dutch golfer Joost Luiten will take a one-shot lead into the final round on Sunday with a chance at his second victory this month.
Luiten moved to 13 under par and one ahead of Pablo Larrazabal of Spain after both players shot bogey-free 6-under 66s at Carton House on Saturday.