Wie in 4-way tie for lead as Park stumbles at LPGA finale

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AVONDALE, La. — Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele played the back nine in 8-under 28 and shot a 12-under 60 in best-ball play Saturday to shatter the Zurich Classic of New Orleans three-round record at 29 under and stretch their lead to five strokes. RELATED: Leaderboard | Inside the Field: Mexico Open at Vidanta Cantlay and Schauffele broke the 54-hole mark of 23 under. Jonas Blixt-Cameron Smith and Kevin Kisner-Scott Brown set the 72-hole mark of 27 under in 2017, the first-year of the team format at TPC Louisiana. The final round will be alternate shot. Cantlay and Schauffele opened with a tournament-record 59 in best-ball play Thursday and had a 68 in alternate shot to maintain a one-stroke lead. The South African tandem of Garrick Higgo and Branden Grace were second at 24 under after a 63. They bogeyed the par-4 12th. Sam Burns, the local favorite who played at LSU, and Billy Horschel were 23 under after a 63. They bogeyed the difficult par-3 ninth hole, then shot a 5-under 31 on the back nine. Australians Jason Day and Jason Scrivener (63) and Aaron Rai and David Lipsky (65) also were 23 under. The father-son team of Jay and Bill Haas was 12 under after a 68. At 68 years, four months, 20 days, Jay Haas, making his 799th official start, is the oldest player to make a PGA TOUR cut. Cantlay and Schauffele, who trailed briefly during the round, made just one birdie in the first four holes. They eagled the par-5 seventh and began the back nine with four consecutive birdies. After making par at the par-4 14th, Cantlay and Schauffele birdied the final four holes.

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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Webb Simpson was over par while his playing partners were going low in Thursday’s first round of The RSM Classic. He bogeyed his second hole on Sea Island’s Plantation Course, the easier of the two courses used this week, then failed to birdie the par-5 14th hole. His caddie, Paul Tesori, preached patience, and it paid off. Simpson played his final 13 holes in 8 under to shoot 65 and take the first-round lead. RELATED: Leaderboard | Wagner ties TOUR record with third albatross | Howell III stiil has burning desire to win “He told me, no matter how I started out, to stay patient,� Simpson said. “I think he knew scores would be good over there (on the Plantation Course). He helped me weather the storm.� Simpson is making just his second start of the fall season. He finished seventh at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. It was his 13th consecutive finish in the top 30, a span that includes three runners-up. Simpson has been a consistent contender at Sea Island, as well. He was runner-up in 2011, losing a playoff to Ben Crane, and finished third last year, a shot out of the playoff won by Charles Howell III. Simpson got stuck on Seaside in the worse side of the draw in the first round, but battled back with a 63-65 weekend. The year prior, Simpson was in 12th place at the halfway point but withdrew after the second round to be with his ailing father, who died shortly after. Simpson thrives on classic courses and said he plays well anytime he’s near the ocean in the southeastern United States. “I grew up going to the beach in Wilmington, so I just love anytime I get close to the coast here,� Simpson said.� Simpson is seeking his first win since the 2018 PLAYERS. He had three runners-up last season. Rory McIlroy beat him with a final-round 61 at the RBC Canadian Open. J.T. Poston shot 62 on Sunday of the Wyndham Championship. Simpson’s final-round 64 at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational was the low round of the day, but he started too far back to catch Brooks Koepka. “It’s been awhile since I’ve won,� Simpson said. “I’ve given myself chances here. Starting this week, all I wanted was a chance Sunday because I do feel comfortable here.�

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