Ludvig Aberg leads Eric Cole by one heading into final round at PGA RSM Classic
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Ludvig Aberg fired a 61 to sit at 20-under 192 heading into Nov 19’s round.
PHOTO: AFP
MIAMI – Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg maintained a one-stroke lead on a day when low scores were in abundance on the Seaside course during the third round of the RSM Classic at St Simons Island, Georgia, on Nov 18.
Aberg fired a 61 to sit at 20-under 192, with playing partner Eric Cole matching the round score to sit in second place at 19 under. Mackenzie Hughes topped those scores with a 10-under 60 to vault into solo third at 18 under.
Aberg and Cole, in search of their first win on the PGA Tour, set career lows with their matching 61s, while Hughes tied his career-best round.
Tyler Duncan is fourth after a 62 and Sam Ryder fell to solo fifth after a 65 for a total of 197.
Aberg has yet to post a bogey over 54 holes. His third round included four birdies and an eagle on five straight holes on the back nine to maintain his lead.
“You get a lot of wedges on the back nine, you get basically all of them, and then 15’s a reachable par five,” Aberg said. “I felt I was striking the ball well and kind of took advantage of a little bit easier conditions today.”
Cole also had a scintillating back nine, posting five birdies and an eagle. His only blemish was a bogey on No. 4.
“I wasn’t hitting any bad shots or anything like that... Just tried to stay patient and not get in too big of a panic and kind of realise that if I continue to hit good shots, hopefully it will switch to making birdies instead of that one bogey,” said Cole.
Hughes missed a 16½-foot birdie putt at No. 18 for a 59 as he settled for a 60 for the second time in his career.
“I probably feel a little bit of disappointment on those last holes, but that’s golfers being golfers, right? Disappointed with a 60,” he said.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka grabbed seven birdies in a seven-under 65 to maintain a share of the LPGA Tour Championship lead on Nov 18 alongside South Korean Amy Yang.
Yang had eight birdies in her eight-under 64 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, joining Hataoka on 21-under 195 – three shots clear of overnight co-leader Alison Lee (68) of the United States.
Hataoka has held a share of the lead after every round in the elite season-ending event that featured 60 golfers chasing a US$2 million (S$2.7 million) winner’s prize.
“My swing feels really comfortable. Tomorrow I have a couple of keys, so I will focus on my keys, good rhythm and good targets,” said Hataoka.
“I think the best is to just concentrate on my round and just do my golf,” said the world No. 18 who is chasing a seventh LPGA title but her first since 2022.
Nasa Hataoka has held a share of the lead after every round in the elite season-ending event that opened with 60 golfers chasing a US$2 million (S$2.7 million) winner’s prize.
PHOTO: AFP
Yang, who powered into contention with a 63 in the previous round, has not made a bogey since her opening hole.
“I’ve been hitting the ball really solid and that really gave me lots of chances out there,” said the veteran who has won all four of her LPGA titles in Asia.
She admitted to feeling “quite nervous” being in contention, but didn’t feel pressure to duplicate or surpass her impressive second round.
She said: “I did try my best just to stay present and when I decide to hit one shot just commit to it and go for it.” REUTERS, AFP
