AVONDALE – Utah natives and former Brigham Young University teammates Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn shot a 12-under 60 in four-ball (best ball) – one shy of a tournament record – to take the lead on April 27 after three rounds at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The team are at 23-under 193, one shot ahead of American Luke List and Sweden’s Henrik Norlander (62) at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale.
“It’s pretty easy to hit shots when Zac is always in the fairway, always on the green,” Fishburn said.
“He’s always available. That’s kind of been our keyword for the week. It’s pretty easy for me to swing free knowing that Zac is always going to be there. He had some awesome birdies when we needed them, and we ham-and-egged it really good today.”
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Shane Lowry of Ireland (64) are two strokes back, tied for third with Ryan Brehm and Mark Hubbard (64).
Blair and Fishburn, each looking for his first PGA Tour victory, carded 29 on the front nine with an eagle at the par-five No. 2 and five birdies.
They stayed hot with another five birdies, which left them one stroke off the 18-hole tournament record of 59 set by Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele in round one of the 2022 event.
Blair, who has been playing golf with Fishburn since they were children in Ogden, Utah, said he was not disappointed that they did not tie the record.
“I think we would have signed up for a 60 at the start of the day. We hit some good shots, hit some good putts, and we had a good day.”
Blair credited Fishburn for the tandem’s hot start, saying, “It was pretty textbook out there for him.”
Fishburn, a tour rookie, had made two cuts in nine starts in 2024 entering the week. Blair is making his 185th start on tour and his best finish is a tie for second at the 2023 Travelers Championship.
List is seeking his third PGA title and Norlander his first in his 167th start after three ties for second place in his career.
The residents of Augusta, Georgia, helped their cause with an eagle on No. 2, another on the par-five 11th, and six birdies.
The team event moves back to foursomes (alternate shot) for the final round on April 28. REUTERS
