On a day that challenged the remainder of the leaders, Zach Johnson dominated the third spherical of the Kaulig Firms Championship on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical at Akron, Ohio.
Johnson, who entered the day a stroke again of the lead, shot 7-under-par 63 to succeed in 13-under 197. That sturdy, bogey-free efficiency started on the onset, with birdies on 4 of the primary 5 holes to kick off a 5-under entrance 9 at Firestone Nation Membership.
“Yeah, it was actually stable. I do not know if it was straightforward, however it was not troublesome,” Johnson mentioned after his spherical. “At the moment was a pin excessive day, it was loopy. And a superb factor. In case you wanted to be brief, you wanted to be lengthy, sure gap placements for essentially the most half, I did that. The entrance 9 was as stable of 9 holes as I’ve performed in I could not let you know how lengthy.”
The 2-time PGA main winner solely grew to become eligible for PGA Tour Champions occasions in February. He is already gained two Champions occasions this 12 months and would transfer up from third to second within the Charles Schwab Cup standings ought to he maintain on to win Sunday.
Whereas he hasn’t gained a PGA Tour occasion since 2015, Johnson completed T9 ultimately week’s John Deere Basic and feels he is been in sturdy kind for fairly awhile now.
“I really feel like I have been in a reasonably good trajectory even previous to (John Deere) if I’ll be blunt,” Johnson mentioned. ” … Deere was stable. Happily the momentum’s sort of carried me into this week.”
Whereas Johnson completed with seven birdies and no bogeys Saturday, he did not have the most effective spherical of the day. That belonged to Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who shot 8 below to take a seat alone in second place at 9 below for the match.
Jimenez, who gained this occasion final 12 months in a playoff in opposition to New Zealand’s Steven Alker, additionally birdied his first two holes and completed with 4 birdies on every 9 of his bogey-free spherical.
“I shoot my age immediately, 62. Each time you’ll be able to shoot your age is nice,” Jimenez mentioned. ” … I performed very stable. I hit it superb, particularly my irons was very good immediately to the flags all day.”
Spherical 2 chief Cameron Percy of Australia (70) shot even-par and sits six strokes again of Johnson in solo third place at 7 below. He is adopted by Tag Ridings and Northern Eire’s Darren Clarke, who each shot 68 and are tied for fourth at 6 below.
–Area Degree Media
