Day: September 15, 2018

Protecting the lead: Lehman co-leads The Ally ChallengeProtecting the lead: Lehman co-leads The Ally Challenge

Tom Lehman played in ten Buick Open’s dating back to his first in 1983 so he knows exactly what Warwick Hills offers – a lot of birdie opportunities. It led to a bunched leaderboard at the top that includes Lehman after he sank a 7-foot birdie on 18 to get in the clubhouse at 10-under par. After a second straight 5-under, 67, he’ll try to protect his spot at the top heading into Sunday. “There’s so many guys close and there’s so many good scores being shot, the guys are bunched up here at the top,â€� said Lehman, who won The Open Championship in 1996. “I think when you’re in or near the lead, that’s really good.  Whether you’re tied for the lead or a shot behind or two shots behind, you know, it’s all the same.â€� Lehman will go for his 12th PGA TOUR Champions victory. He won the Principal Charity Classic in early June. Lehman was sharp on Saturday with six birdies and just one bogey. He’s made just two bogeys through 36 holes. The five-time PGA TOUR winner shares the lead with Scott McCarron and Jeff Maggert heading into the final round. The leaders will play together starting at 1:35 p.m. “If you drive it well, you’re going to be able to attack pins, and the greens are so perfect, you’re going to make putts.  Scores tend to be low here and there’s going to be a lot of guys shooting low, so there’s the possibility for fireworks tomorrow.â€� Maggert will aim for his first win since the 2015 DICK’S Sporting Goods Open and will be relying on his 14 years playing the Buick Open at Warwick Hills. “I did play a lot of good rounds here in the Buick Open days, so looking for one more good round tomorrow.  I feel like I left a good one out there today, so hopefully I’ll make it up tomorrow.â€� Scott McCarron Notes • It’s the second time he shot 63 in his last three rounds, as he won the Shaw Charity Classic after carding a 7-under 63 on Sunday. • Should he go on to win, McCarron would be the first player to win back-to-back events since Bernhard Langer, who did it twice in 2017. • Entering this week, McCarron has four wins in nine tries when he starts the final round as a leader/co-leader. He is 0-for-2 when in that position this year (T3/KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, T4/Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship). • All eight of McCarron’s wins on PGA TOUR Champions have been by one stroke or by playoff. In two of his victories, he opened with a score in the 70s (70/2018 American Family Insurance Championship, 71/2017 DICK’S Sporting Goods Open). • McCarron will play in Sunday’s final group for the fifth time in 20 starts this season. Mark O’Meara Notes • O’Meara started on No. 10 and birdied seven of his first eight holes en route to a 6-under 30. The round of 8-under 64 is one off his career-best on PGA TOUR Champions, and it’s his best score since he shot 7-under 64 at the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship. •    His career-low round in 18 starts at the Buick Open was 64 (R3/1984), and his best finish was T2 in 2002. • O’Meara is the fifth-oldest player in the field (he will be 61 years, 8 months, 3 days on Sunday). Should he go on to win, he would be the seventh-oldest winner in PGA TOUR Champions history. Entering this week, 19 players have won 26 tournaments at the age of 60 or older. • O’Meara has two career wins on PGA TOUR Champions, the last being the 2010 Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship. If he wins Sunday, it would mark the second-longest gap between victories in Tour history (7 years, 11 months, 6 days). • In 13 starts this year, his best finish was T13 at the Regions Tradition and Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf, and he is currently 66th in the Charles Schwab Cup To come play on the PGA TOUR Champions and finish 40th or 50th is not my cup of tea. Now, I have to go out and practice, come out and compete a little more and that’s my goal for next year.

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