McCarron, Pate tied at Toshiba: NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Scott McCarron and Steve Pate shared the lead at 8-under 63 after the first round of the Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club.
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Justin Thomas and Brendan Steele share the lead going into Sunday’s final round at 20-under.
First-round leader Scott Piercy had two bogeys on the front nine to shoot 69 and was two shots back with Spencer Levin (64) and Hideki Matsuyama (66).
The extra sleep paid off as he briefly threatened the magical score of 59, requiring birdies from two of the last three holes, but he could not get it done.
Such has been the low scoring on the West course this week that Steele and Thomas established a new 54-hole tournament record with their staggering 20-under-par 196 aggregate.
He further said, So I’m going to need to do that again tomorrow and continue it. I think it was the way the course is playing, with no rough, it all down to your putting. “I’ll be trying to be a little bit more patient and a little bit more positive, not kind of put so much pressure on myself”. Brendan flew a high iron over the trees, the ball curling up to within few feet of the hole, leaving an easy putt for birdie three. He achieved his best finish of tied third two weeks ago at the season-opening Frys.com championships. If I don’t keep the streak alive.
Overnight leader Thomas, who flirted with a rare 59 on Friday before closing an 11-under 61, finished with back-to-back birdies after producing a tidy up-and-down from the back of the 18th green. “What really hurt was the missed putts at 15, 16 and 17”.
Steele has 13 birdies, an eagle and no bogeys over the second and third rounds, and that flawless performance has put him position to push for his second victory on tour, after the 2011 Texas Open. I wish I could have those back.
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And Justin Thomas has been on fire. Thereafter, Stewart Cink finished in sixth.
