Chris Kirk followed up a career-low-tying 8-under 62 on Friday with a 4-under 66, highlighted by birdies on his last two holes to claim his sixth 54-hole lead or co-lead on Tour at 13-under. He has converted them into a win twice previously, at the 2011 Sanderson Farms Championship and the 2013 RSM Classic.
“You want to go out there and try to make a bunch of birdies and get into the lead, but at the same time, you make a bunch of pars on this golf course, that’s good. I know the wind has been down this week, but this place is tough. It’s really, really difficult. There’s a ton of difficult holes, not just the Bear Trap but all throughout this golf course.
“I was able to keep that in mind and kept me patient with what I was doing, and a little bit of an up-and-down on the back nine; after two great birdies on 11 and 12, a couple bad bogeys on 13 and 16. But to finish like that definitely will make dinner taste a little bit better and gets me excited to go see what we can do tomorrow.”
PGA TOUR rookie Eric Cole posted a second straight 4-under 66 and sits in solo second place at 11-under.
Overnight leader Justin Suh closed with a 70 and slipped down into third place a t10-under.
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Tied in fourth place one shot behind the American trio are last year’s runner-up Shane Lowry (65) of Ireland and England’s Ben Taylor (69).
“This golf course, you don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Lowry. “You just need to stick in as long as you can. There’s not many holes where you can stand up, and you don’t want to be complacent but take it easy on them. Every hole is a bit of a disaster hole, or a lot of holes are a bit of disaster holes. You just need to be very cautious and aggressive to your targets and just go out there and give it your best, and if that’s good enough at the end of the day, you hope to be standing here with the trophy.
“I putted nicely, hit the ball well. To be honest, first round I hit the ball unbelievable. Yesterday I putted quite nicely, and today I kind of put the two of them together. I missed a short one on 17, which I don’t know where that come out of, but hopefully all that will come together tomorrow and I can shoot a decent score tomorrow.
“I think I did what I needed to do today. I knew I needed, with the way the conditions were, I knew I probably needed to go out and shoot a decent score, I did, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Lowry’s uncled passed away on Thursday and he almost went home but was convinced to stay and play. He is wearing a green and white ribbon in his memory.
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