American Ryan Moore leads by one shot going into the final round of the John Deere Classic after firing a third successive round of 65 on Saturday in IL.
Advertisement
“That was huge to get another birdie early, just to show the guys behind me I’m not messing around”, Moore said.
That put him two shots clear of Patrick Rodgers, Ryan Moore, and Zach Johnson – all back in the clubhouse after rounds of 65 – as well as Tom Gillis who was on 16 under after reaching the 16th hole.
His only top-10 finishes came in 2012 (eighth) and 2014 (seventh). He led by five shots after Hoffmann bogeyed No. 12, and no one could mount a challenge.
“Every win is a little different”, Moore said.
“It’s just one of those (days) where someone could go shoot five or six under on the back nine very, very possibly”.
“It is really dark, and the last few greens were getting soft and bumpy, too”, Hoffmann said.
With Moore making three birdies on the front nine and another on the 10th hole en route to a 4-under 67, they had no chance. I’ve worked on it a lot and gone to a lot of different places to seen what I can do and get it feeling better, and nothing made it feel better.
And I’ve only been working with him, like I said, for a month and a half.
NCAA champion Aaron Wise was 3 under overall with three holes left.
Moore claimed his fifth tour title by two strokes over fellow American Ben Martin in a low-key affair in Silvis, Illinois, where he received polite applause from the gallery after tapping in from two feet at the last.
Three-time victor Steve Stricker carded a one-under-par 70 to be seven shots off the pace, while 2014 champion Brian Harman is a stroke back.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth was not entered this week after also deciding to skip the Olympic Games. The former OR player won a Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada event two weeks ago in Edmonton, Alberta.
The world’s number 22, Johnson is one of just two players ranked in the top 50 competing this week.
JUNIOR PGA: Lucy Li won the Junior PGA Championship at age 13, a year off LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson’s record in the event.
Advertisement
Three weeks ago at Carnoustie in the Senior British Open, Jimenez took a four-stroke lead into the last day, only to shoot 75 and tie for third – three strokes behind victor Paul Broadhurst. He missed the cut by two strokes in his debut and cashed a $30,000 check for making the cut and finishing 27th two years ago.
