Justin Lower made an 11-foot eagle at the par-5 18th to close with a bogey-free 63, tying his career-low round, and a share of the lead at 16-under at the World Wide Technology Championship.
“I had a couple wayward shots kind of toward the end of the front nine but was able to get it back somehow,” said the American. “I putted really well. Something I’ve been working hard on, one of the strengths of my game, so was just trying to get that in line. They went in today. Hopefully they continue tomorrow.
“The big thing about 18 is I think just getting it in play off the tee. If you can avoid both the bunkers, you’ll have a chance.
“Then had a perfect yardage and a similar situation to a practice round I played earlier this week. Had 247 adjusted pin, 231 front edge, I think. Just a high cut 5-wood, hold it against the wind. I don’t know where it landed, but it ended up maybe 10, 11 feet from it. I luckily got a read on the putt from [Kevin] Streelman, so worked out.
Overnight co-leader Nico Echavarria from Colombia shot a bogey-free 68 to retain a share of the lead. He holds his third career 54-hole lead/co-lead on Tour and is 2-for-2 to date converting to victory. He is the only player still bogey-free through 54-holes.
“Played very smart today,” said Echavarria. “It was pretty tough out there in the last six, seven holes, was able to hit quality shots. Haven’t three-putted, a lot of good two-putts today with the wind. So kept myself in there and hopefully we can keep it going one more day.
“There’s going to be nerves, it’s normal. I’ve been in this position luckily, I’ve gotten it done. It’s just a matter of being calm, controlling the nerves because there are going to be nerves. Hopefully there’s wind because I like playing in wind. I think I can manage the wind pretty well out here. So we’ll see. I won’t change my strategy, but maybe good golf will be enough.”
American Carson Young followed-up his second-round 61 with a 67 in his quest to win his first PGA Tour title in his 64th start.
“It seemed like a whole different golf course today. The wind blowing in a little bit different direction so it was a challenge, but I still played really solid, hit a lot of good iron shots and made some random long putts which helped keep the momentum going for the round. Just happy I had a good finish there,” said Young.
“It’s kind of like it was Thursday, it was just blowing hard, but instead of being out of the northwest, it was out of the southwest. It was kind of heading this way towards the northwest as the day went on. Yeah, it was a lot stronger wind today and it was hard to be too aggressive to some pins.”
Max Greyserman who held a share of the overnight lead closed with a 69 having made a double bogey at the par-4 5th and moves down into a share of fourth place at 15-under alongside fellow Americans Joe Highsmith (bogey-free 65) and Austin Eckroat (bogey-free 66).
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Nos. 1-50 in the FedExCup standings through the Tour Championship are locked in their positions, while Nos. 51 and beyond carry their FedExCup points into the Fall. Nos. 51-60 through the FedExCup Fall will qualify for two Signature Events in 2025: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Genesis Invitational. No players moved into Nos. 51-60 this week.
The Top 125 will be exempt into all Full-Field events and The Players next season and Nos. 126-150 will earn full Korn Ferry Tour status and conditional status on Tour next season.
