Featured Golf News
Stanley Extends Lead in Farmers Insurance Open
Kyle Stanley padded four strokes onto the one-shot lead he held before the start of the third round in the Farmers Insurance Open. On Saturday the 24-year-old native of Gig Harbor, Wash., carded a 4-under 68 on the South course at Torrey Pines to go to 18-under 198 and equal the event's 54-hole record set by Tiger Woods in 2008.
The former Clemson All-American carded five birdies and a lone bogey Saturday to forge a five-shot margin over John Huh and John Rollins, who also posted 68s. If Stanley can maintain his lead through the final 18 holes he will earn his first victory on the PGA Tour and $1.044 million.
Stanley could have added another stroke onto his lead but missed an uphill 5-foot putt on the par-5 18th hole and settled for par. It was pretty clear how he intends to approach Sunday's final round. "I need to keep doing what I'm doing," he said during a televised interview at greenside.
"It was a good day," he added. "I stayed patient and I'm in a good place right now."
After play shifted between the easier North course and much tougher South on Thursday and Friday, all weekend rounds take place on the 7,569-yard South, which favors long hitters such as Stanley, whose drives on Saturday averaged 310 yards.
Tied for fourth at 204 are 2011 FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas (70) and South Korea's Sang-Moon Bae, who shot a 72. On his first five holes Bae went 5-over par, but the 25-year-old turned things around with five birdies - including four in a row on Nos. 10-13 - to get back to even par on the day.
Sharing sixth at 11-under 205 are Cameron Tringale (66), Jonas Blixt (65) and Brandt Snedeker (74). Starting the third round only a stroke behind Stanley, Snedeker had a tough time Saturday with four bogeys and only two birdies.
Blixt, a 27-year-old from Sweden, posted seven birdies for Saturday's low round. Tournament sponsor Farmers Insurance had a contest during the third round whereby players could wear their school colors and have a chance to benefit the golf teams at their former universities. The player that shot the low round would earn his alma mater's golf team $20,000; all players wearing their school colors earned their schools $500 each. Blixt's low round earned Florida State the top prize.
"When I can help my college out, I want to do that," Blixt told PGATour.com. "Without them, I would never be here. I grew up a lot over there. They helped me with everything. I mean, I got to be a lot better player there, and I had a lot of fun there too. So I hope I can help them."
Sharing ninth at 206 are Justin Leonard (71) and Scott Piercy (68). Eight players are tied for 11th another stroke back, including defending champion Bubba Watson, who shot 68 Saturday.
For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r004/.
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