(Las Vegas) Patrick Cantlay went one putt away from returning a 59. He had to settle for a career-best score to take the lead at the PGA Shriners Open on Saturday, tied with Tom Kim.
Posted at 10:40 p.m.
If round three was any indication of what’s to come, anything is still possible on the course at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.
Cantlay had five birdies on the first six holes, then was smoldering late with five birdies over six holes. These streaks allowed him to dream of a first round under the 60 mark on the PGA Tour.
He had to putt just over 25 feet to get the birdie from 18e pennant. The bullet spun sharply to the right and did not find the bottom of the cup.
It was his first round of 60 shots on the tour as a professional — his other 60 was at the Travelers Championship in 2011. He was a 19-year-old amateur at the time.
Cantlay never played 59, even on his home turf in Virginia Country Club, California. He smiled when asked if he was stressed on his last putt.
“I would have liked to reach it, yes,” he said.
Kim, 20, is a rising PGA star. He won the Wyndham Championship and had big moments on his Presidents Cup debut.
He had five birdies in the last six holes. He turned in a 62, which puts him tied with Cantlay at 19 under par after three rounds.
They are three strokes ahead of Mito Pereira (67) and Matthew NeSmith (63), while defending champion Sungjae Im (63) sits four strokes behind the leaders.
Canadian Adam Hadwin (65) is also part of the chasing group. He is five strokes behind Kim and Cantlay.
Fellow Canadians Taylor Pendrith (66) and Adam Svensson (67) are tied at 32e echelon, 10 shots from the head.