WASHINGTON, Sept 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Joaquin Niemann carded a two-under
par 68 on Saturday and to take a two-shot lead at The Greenbrier, where the
20-year-old Chilean is chasing his first US PGA Tour title.
Niemann had three birdies and his first bogey of the week to emerge with a
15-under par total of 195 on the Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs, West
Virginia.
He was two shots clear of Americans Richy Werenski, Nate Lashley and Robby
Shelton. Werenski and Lashley both posted 65s while Shelton carded an even-
par 70.
It was a further stroke back to Americans Adam Long and Scottie Scheffler
on 198.
Kevin Chappell, whose second-round 59 on Friday was just the 11th sub-60
round ever produced on the PGA Tour, struggled in the follow-up.
Chappell, playing his first tournament since having back surgery last
November, had four bogeys and one birdie in a three-over 73 that left him
eight off the pace.
Niemann, who has eight top-10 finishes in his 42 career starts on the US
tour, was coming off a career-best 62 on Friday that left him tied for the
36-hole lead in the first event on the US tour’s 2019-2020 calendar.
“I’m just really happy the way I’ve been playing,” said Niemann, who could
become the first Chilean player to win a US PGA Tour title. “This course is
really good for me.”
With the greens firming up and the pins tucked into some tricky positions,
super-low scores were less in evidence on Saturday.
After rolling in a 26-foot putt for his second birdie of the day at the
10th, he made his lone miscue, finding the rough off the tee at the 11th on
the way to a bogey.
He took advantage of the par-five 17th to stretch his lead, recovering from
an errant tee shot to roll in a seven-foot birdie putt.
Lashley, who captured his first career title in Detroit in June, had five
of his six birdies in his first eight holes and seized a share of the lead at
14-under with an eagle at the 17th — where he holed out from off the green.
Moments later play was halted for 50 minutes because of lighting in the
area. Lashley would return to make his third bogey of the day at the par-
three 18th.
Werenski was delighted to complete his 65 shortly before the weather delay.
“I played good,” said Werenski, who said a conservative game plan in
tougher conditions paid off.
Knowing that he was putting well, Werenski said, his plan was to “not fire
at anything too crazy.
“It worked out,” he said.