Australia’s Steven Bowditch will take a three shot lead into the final round of the Valero Texas Open as he seeks a first-ever PGA Tour success and a first-ever appearance in the Masters.
The 30-year Newcastle-born and now Dallas-based Bowditch extended his second round lead by two shots with a round 68 to be clear of the American pair of Matt Kuchar (65) and Andrew Loupe (70) who share second place on nine under par.
Once again Bowditch got his round off to a sensational start holing out from the fairway for birdie and then sensationally holing a bunker shot from 84 feet out at the next to race to 11-under par.
Steven Bowditch one round away from a first PGA Tour victory and a first Masters appearance. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
Bowditch went to 12-under with a birdie at five before his only bogey of the round at the par four ninth hole.
He then pared the next seven hole and for a third day running birdied the par three 17th and on this occasion chipping from short of the green to less than a foot.
Bowditch is competing this week in his 110th PGA Tour event and while Friday was the first occasion he’s ever led a PGA Tour event.
And while he is yet to taste victory on the PGA Tour Bowditch is no stranger to victory having won twice on the secondary Webb.com Tour with success in the 2005 Jacob’s Creek Open Championship and 2010 Soboba Golf Classic.
He’s also had two lesser victories in Australia.
“This is all new to me on the PGA Tour leading going into a final round so I have no experience in that regard to draw upon tomorrow,” he said.
“I have won four or five other events, namely on the Web.com tour and also in Australia, so I do have a little bit of experience of winning but not a great deal at this level.
“So all I can do is take it one shot at a time and hopefully have a fun day out there tomorrow.”
If succesful, Bowditch will earn a first prize winner’s cheque for $US 1.1m and that’s some $600,000 less than the $US 1.7m he’s earned since competing on the PGA Tour for a first time since 2005.
As well, victory would send Bowditch onto next fortnight’s Masters and only his second Major Championship since contesting the 2003 Open Championship.
However Bowditch’s biggest threat will come surely from Kuchar, and who is no stranger to victory having won six times on the PGA Tour including last May’s Jack Nicklaus hosted Memorial.
Kuchar’s score of 65 was the lowest all week.
