Three players continue to sit tied for the lead at the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands (Texas) Country Club on Saturday, though it’s a new combination from the trio that led after 18 holes.
Steve Stricker and Steven Alker of New Zealand carded matching 7-under par 65s to maintain a share of the lead heading into Sunday’s final round. However, they have a new co-leader in Brandt Jobe, who fired 64 to join them at the top at 12-under 132.
First-round co-leader Ernie Els shot a 1-over-par 73 to fall into a tie for 17th.
Ken Duke (66) sits solo fourth at 8 under, four shots back of the leaders, and Woody Austin (69) is alone in fifth at 7 under.
Stricker was on his way to a bogey-free round with eight birdies but he bogeyed the par-4 18th.
“It was a good day. Played really solid, a lot better today than I did yesterday except for a couple shots coming in, but overall it was much better,” Stricker said. “Had a couple more opportunities on the front that I didn’t take advantage of, but overall it was a good solid day.”
Jobe recorded a clean round, with birdies on six of the last seven holes. His 64 was the lowest round of the day.
“Kind of got going there on 13, or 12 I guess it was, birdied five in a row, I think,” Jobe said. “I had some fortunate things today, but that’s kind of what you do when you shoot a low round, that’s kind of how it happens.”
Alker played par golf until he birdied Nos. 8 and 9. Alker was all over the place on the back nine – three birdies, two eagles and two bogeys.
“I was just trying to keep up with Steve Stricker. That’s basically it,” Alker said. “I got off to a bit of a slow start, I couldn’t make any birdies and I wasn’t hitting it very close so just stayed patient and rolled in a couple nice ones on 8 and 9 kind of got me going, got me some confidence with the putter. Had a little bit of a slip at the end, but I’m right in it tomorrow, which is great.”
–Field Level Media
