LOS ANGELES (AFP) – American Adam Schenk chased his first win on the US PGA Tour and after the third round of the Shriners Children’s Open on Saturday (October 9th) grabbed three of the last four holes to take the lead in one fell swoop take over.
The number 207 in the world, Schenk, never better than fourth in 118 career PGA events, sank a birdie of almost two and a half meters at par-four 18.
“It was nice to finish with a birdie,” said Schenk. “Great day. I couldn’t have shot many shots lower.”
He was 18 under 195 for 54 holes at the TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, good enough for a lead over his compatriot Matthew Wolff, last year’s US Open runner-up.
The Americans Sam Burns, Chad Ramey and Andrew Putnam shared third place with 197.
Schenk answered a bogey on the par-three-fifth with three birdies in a row to close the top nine, and then rolled one-meter birdies on the 15th.
“I definitely have to drive a lot straighter tomorrow,” said Schenk. “Just try to do the same things that I did. See what happens tomorrow, but what a great opportunity.”
Wolff, 22, won his only PGA title at the 2019 3M Open but liked his chances in a Sunday shooting.
“I don’t get nervous, I can’t get over myself,” he said. “The things I’m working on, I know if I keep working I’ll be fine.”
Wolff tipped in for birdie in ninth place after missing a 15-foot eagle putt, then caught fire on second nine.
He screwed from a height of 2.40 m on the 11th, tapped for birdie on the 13th par five, drove the green on the 15th feet.
At par-five 18, Wolff was only inches away on an eagle chip and typed in for birdie and 65.
“It was pretty gusty out there,” said Wolff. “You never knew if you would strike and a gust of wind would freshen up. It took a little getting used to. It made birdies a little harder for the top nine.
“Luckily I turned it on on the second nine and did a few.”
Burns is aiming for his third PGA title of the year and career after winning the Valspar Championship in May and last week’s Sanderson Farms Championship.
Burns closed the front nine with three birdies. He pocketed a 15-foot birdie putt at par-four-seventh, lowered his neck to five feet to set up a birdie at par-three-eight, and tapped in for birdie at par-five ninth.
He punched a 13-foot birdie putt in 11th, but caught a bogey on 16th after finding water on his approach.
Putnam missed a nine foot birdie putt in 18th place that would have given him part of the lead and a fourth straight birdie to complete his round.