Steve Stricker shot 68-68 to reach 7 under.
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Birdies for Charity has been a tradition at the John Deere Classic for more than 20 years.
Guthrie, who will be part of the afternoon wave, doesn’t expect he will finish the second round before play is suspended Friday if he gets on the course at all. “That’s a lot of golf”.
Moore was at 18-under 195 after his third round as he seeks his first US PGA win since defending a title in the 2014 CIMB Classic.
Gillis also found his game on a course where he finished second previous year, losing a playoff to Jordan Spieth. “I don’t think he really ever sniffed a bogey”.
“You get that close, it stings”.
Moore wasn’t fazed by birdie binges from Morgan Hoffmann and Martin during a long Saturday, one in which many of the players – Moore included – had to play almost two rounds after numerous rain delays wreaked havoc with the tournament schedule.
Johnson returned to finish off a bogey-free round that left him tied with fellow Americans Ryan Moore and Patrick Rodgers at six-under.
Gillis had two first-round holes remaining when he returned to the course Friday. Last week in the 3M Championship, The Spanish player was a stroke ahead entering the final round and ended up losing when Joe Durant shot 63 and eagled the first hole of a playoff.
“I was trying to stretch that margin out a little bit but I couldn’t get any putts to go and in the end snuck it out”.
“We’re all used to it”, Johnson said of the weather delays. “I grew up in Baton Rouge”.
“It’s nice to have some momentum coming into this time of year”, Martin said.
Bryan was among those who began to thrive in the damp conditions.
Loupe had just completed the 14th hole, and moved to eight under par after making the turn at five under and then picking up shots on the 11th, 13th and 14th holes.
“I liked how steady it was”, Moore said. “It’s so humid out there”. The completion of the first round will take place Friday morning with the second round expected to start by noon. “You don’t really have to worry about it spinning back too much.They’re soft enough to where they’re just kind of hitting and reacting, really, really soft”. “I’ve come to appreciate how well it fits me and suits my game”. The 2012 tournament victor is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “I made some putts, but yet I missed some very makeable ones”.
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“So I didn’t have a lot of expectations, but for some reason when I get here my mind is clear”. “Because I haven’t shown any form since then”.
