Nick Watney fired a five-under-par 65 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Brad Fritsch after three rounds of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship.
The US’ Watney, who won the last of his five PGA Tour titles at the 2012 Barclays, had a 54-hole total of 14-under-par 196 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Canada’s Fritsch, who also signed for a 65, was a stroke back on 197.
Photo: AFP
Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson fired a 66 to join overnight coleader Heath Slocum on 198, while the American slipped back with a two-under 68.
Slocum needs a third-place finish in the US tour’s final regular-season tournament to qualify for the FedExCup playoffs, which start this week with the Barclays.
Scott Langley, who was tied with Slocum after 36 holes, managed a one-under 69 and slipped into a tie for fifth on 199.
Brandt Snedeker, the 2007 champion, and 2011 winner Webb Simpson both shot 66s to join Langley in filth place.
After two birdies in the first nine holes, Watney added three more birdies coming home, capping his round with a birdie at 18 that took him past early pace-setter Fritsch.
Fritsch also played without a bogey, his round highlighted by an eagle two at the par-four eighth.
Fritsch went into the weekend seeking his first PGA Tour title — and a rise from 163rd in the FedEx Cup standings into the top 125 who advance to the playoff series.
Argentina’s Andres Romero had the best round of the day: a 64 that put him in a group of six players on 200. That group also included Scotland’s Martin Laird and first-round leader Camilo Villegas of Colombia.
“I kept it pretty simple,” Watney said. “The part I liked most was that down the stretch I had to make a few putts and I was able to do it. I’m in the arena — I love to have a chance.”
Watney, 33, had a steady start with a pair of pars preceding a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-three third. He parred his next four, then landed his approach inside two feet at the eighth.
After birdies at 13 and 15, he closed his round by rolling in a 19-foot birdie putt at the last.
Fritsch’s round was highlighted by his eagle at the eighth, where he holed a wedge shot from 76 yards out and he also poured in a 57-footer for birdie at 14.
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