Golf: Chris Kirk opens 2-shot lead at Honda Classic

FLORIDA – Chris Kirk birdied his final two holes to shoot a four-under 66 on Saturday and open up a two-stroke lead after 54 holes at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Kirk, who is searching for his fifth win on PGA Tour and first since 2015, sits at 13-under 197. He overtook second-round leader Justin Suh, who shot 70 and dropped to third at 10 under.

PGA Tour rookie Eric Cole sits alone in second at 11 under after his second consecutive 66 at PGA National Resort & Spa.

England’s Ben Taylor (69) and Ireland’s Shane Lowry (65) are within striking distance in a tie for fourth on 201.

Kirk posted two birdies on the front and four birdies and two bogeys coming in. He was playing with Suh, who had two bogeys and a chip-in eagle for his round.

“I’m just kind of worried about what I’m doing,” Kirk, who took a break from golf in 2019 to deal with depression and alcohol misuse, said. “Justin is a really nice guy, really great guy to play with, but I’m really not paying a whole lot of attention to what he’s doing.

“It was a little bit of a monotonous start I guess for both of us, but 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... This place is tough.”

Cole, who has 50 wins as a professional on various mini-tours, took advantage of Suh’s struggles, recording five birdies – four on the back nine – against just one bogey.

“I’m hitting the ball well, which is always good. It’s important around here,” Cole said. “There’s so many tough shots. But I felt good today, which was really nice.

“I felt relatively comfortable out there and hit some good shots when I needed to.”

Suh’s lone bright spot came at the par-four 12th hole, where he holed out from 153 yards on his second shot.

“I hit an eight-iron. Just cut off an eight-iron. It was in off the left and it came out great,” Suh said.

“I was asking for it to sit. My caddie wanted it to go, and it was right in the middle, so it was perfect.”

Ryan Brehm posted a 64, the low round of the day. He vaulted 45 spots up the leaderboard to put himself at five under, tied for 15th.

Lowry, who led in late 2022 but came up one shot short of winner Sepp Straka, kept himself in contention with a 65 that featured seven birdies.

That included a chip-in at the 11th from the collection area below the green that took one hop and rolled into the cup, the flagstick keeping it from racing by.

“I was just trying to leave myself something inside 10 feet for par,” Lowry said. REUTERS, AFP