Martin leads in Las Vegas
American Ben Martin will take a narrow two-shot lead into Sunday’s final round at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open after carding a nine-under 62 in Saturday’s third round.
Martin carded 68 and 66 in the first and second rounds respectively, and Saturday’s low score sees him lead on 17-under.
The 27-year-old birdied the first, fourth, fifth and seventh holes and bogeyed the second, but it was his performance on the back nine that saw him grab the lead.
Martin birdied the tenth hole and nailed five consecutive birdies from the 13th to 17th holes. He told the PGAtour.com that he would be attempting repeat the performance on Sunday.
“(I’ll) just go out tomorrow with the same mindset, head down, and try to keep making birdies. I felt it from the first hole (when) I made a 20-footer for birdie,” Martin said.
“So I felt confident with my putter and I was getting a lot of looks. I’ve played that stretch of holes well all week, 15 and 16, and that’s really the part of the course that most guys are making their birdies.”
Martin’s best ever finish on the PGA Tour is third place.
Scotland’s Russel Knox lead at the halfway mark and has dropped just one spot. He trail’s Martin on 15-under after carding 66 in round three.
Jimmy Walker and Andrew Svoboda are tied for third on 13-under after respective scores of 62 and 67 on Saturday.
Kevin Streelman, Brooks Koepka and Scott Piercy and defending champion Webb Simpson are behind them in the chasing pack, tied on 12-under.
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