After setting his career-best 127 through 36 holes on the strength of a 63-64 start, Lee Hodges ended his bogey-free run but offset his two bogeys with two birdies to make the turn with an even-par 35 then added five birdies on the inward nine to sign for 66 and close with a five-shot lead at 20-under.
His 193 marks the new tournament 54-hole scoring record, bettering the 195 set by Scott Piercy last year.
“I didn’t think I played bad on the front nine, I just couldn’t really get it close to the hole and when I did, I couldn’t make the putt. I hit one really bad shot on 2, just kind of maybe didn’t commit to it as well as I should have. Yeah, on the back I hit a lot of really good shots. Putter got going, which was nice. I knew it would if I just kept hitting putts, I’ve been rolling it so nice. No, I felt really comfortable out there today.
“We’ve been aggressive just because the greens have been soft, but we just made a real conscious effort this week to commit to every shot we’ve hit and not get ahead of ourselves. I mean, when I’m walking down the fairway, all I’m thinking about is the next shot I’m going to hit. I’ve done a really good job of not getting ahead of myself and I think I will tomorrow as well. Yeah, we’ve just really, really stuck to our process this week.
“I have nothing to lose. I’m out here playing with house money. I have a job next year on the PGA TOUR, this is all great. This is just icing on the cake.”
Hodges entered the week at No. 74 in the FedExCup standings, 15 points behind No. 70 (K.H. Lee) with the top 70 after next week’s Wyndham Championship advancing to the Playoffs. He is projected to move to No. 33 with a win.
J.T. Poston posted a 66 for the third consecutive round and hasn’t made a bogey since his two at the 3rd and 16th in the first round.
Defending champion and highest ranked player in the FedExCup, Tony Finau carded a 67 and is in third place at 14-under in his bid to become the fourth player this season to successfully defend a title.
Australian Aaron Baddeley, the only non-American in the top-5, continues improving his score in every round following up his 69-66 with a 65 and lies in fourth place at 13-under.
Following a double-bogey at the par-4 ninth, Sam Ryder birdied seven of his last nine holes, including five straight from the 14th to tie the back nine record of 7-under 29 and sign for a 65 for a share of fifth place at 12-under. He began this week’s event at No. 69 in the FedExCup.
Keith Mitchell (67), Billy Horschel (68) and Kevin Streelman (69) complete the top-5.
