LOS ANGELES: PGA Tour rookie Alex Prugh almost nonchalantly fired a flawless seven-under-par 65 to grab a one-shot lead in the weather-delayed third round of the Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta, California on Saturday.
Making only his third appearance on the highly competitive US circuit, Prugh broke clear of a three-man logjam at the top when he birdied the par-four 17th at La Quinta Country Club, one of four venues hosting the five-round pro-am event.
A solid par at the last gave Prugh a 21-under total of 195 and a one-stroke cushion over fellow Americans Bubba Watson (68) and rookie Martin Flores (65).
First-round leader Watson tackled the Palmer Private course at PGA West while Flores, the only player in the field without a bogey this week, toured the tricky SilverRock Resort layout.
American Joe Ogilvie carded a bogey-free 68 at SilverRock to lie four strokes off the pace, one ahead of compatriots Bill Haas (66) and Chad Collins (69) and straight-hitting South African Tim Clark (67).
Prugh began a day of welcome sunshine in the California desert two shots behind the pacesetting Watson and he maintained his title bid with an outward nine of four-under 32.
The 25-year-old from Washington state, despite playing what he later described as “boring” golf, picked up further shots at the 11th, 13th and 17th to tighten his grip on the tournament.
“Today was a really boring round … and it’s not a bad thing,” Prugh told reporters.
“I was hitting the driver very well, I kept on hitting fairway after fairway.
“I mean how fun is it to see someone two-putt for birdie?
“Kind of boring. But boring rounds are actually fine with me.”
Prugh, who qualified for the PGA Tour by finishing 16th in the Nationwide Tour money list last year, said his mental approach had benefited from this week’s pro-am format. — Reuters
“You have four different courses and you’re playing with amateurs, so it’s kind of hard to get yourself caught up in everything,” said the winner of the 2009 New Zealand Open.
“I’m just playing golf. I’m just trying to entertain my amateur partners as well as I can, and hopefully they get their money’s worth when they’re out here.”
Left-hander Watson, seeking his first PGA Tour victory after four full seasons on the circuit, was two ahead of the pack overnight but made a slow start with seven pars followed by a bogey.
He finally gained some momentum, four birdies in the next five holes helping him end the round just one off the lead.
“I just played bad,” Watson said after covering the back nine in four under. “The 68 was getting a lot out of my round today, so I’m not mad at a 68. I wanted to play better.”
However, Watson accepts there is still a long way to go in the 90-hole event, which will finish today after Thursday’s scheduled action was entirely wiped out by heavy rain.
“Hopefully I can make the cut tomorrow and I’ll be able to play the last day,” the 31-year-old said. “The key is just making putts. In this golf tournament you know you got to make putts because everybody is going to hit good shots.”
World number 37 Mike Weir of Canada, the highest-ranked player in the field and champion here in 2003, returned a 67 to sit six shots off the pace at 15 under. — Reuters