Tom Hoge fired a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Saturday at Waialae Country Club and will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Sony Open.
Hoge, whose best career finish is a T4 at the 2017 Barracuda Championship, signed for a card with six birdies, highlighted by two in a row on 17 and 18, to grab the pole position at 15 under.
“I’ve been hitting it really well for the last three days. Nice to see a few putts go in here today,” said Hoge, who is currently No. 56 in the FedExCup standings. “There were a few January shots out there, first round of the year for sure, but I managed my way around them pretty well, and happy with the day.”
After entering the third round with a three-stroke lead, Brian Harman posted a 2-under 68 to fall into a tie for second with Patton Kizzire at 15 under.
“The course played a little tougher today, at least for me,” said Harman, who finished with three birdies and a bogey. “There’s some tee shots out there that are at best 50-50 balls, like the one I had on 18. Probably the best drive I hit all week, and I get up there and I don’t have much for a second shot.
“I’ve been kind of getting those breaks all week, and today I saw the other side of it. Hopefully, it will move back in my favor tomorrow.”
Kizzire, winner of this season’s OHL Classic, started out with a double-bogey on the the first hole, but then reeled off eight birdies, including five straight on hole Nos. 6-10, to post a 6-under 64.
At 14 under, Kyle Stanley is alone in fourth, following a 5-under 65, highlighted by an eagle on the par-five 18th.
First-round co-leader, Chris Kirk, shot a 3-under 67 to sit solo-fifth at 13 under, one clear of Russell Knox (65) and Ollie Schniederjans (67), who are T6 at 12 under.
Cameron Smith (67) is at 11 under, one ahead of Webb Simpson, who posted a low-round 63 to reach 10 under, alongside Justin Thomas (66), Sam Saunders (66), Brian Stuard (67), Talor Gooch (70).
TOP 10: ROUND THREE
1 Tom Hoge -16
2 Patton Kizzire -15
2 Brian Harman -15
4 Kyle Stanley -14
5 Chris Kirk- 13
6 Russell Knox -12
6 Ollie Schniederjans -12
8 Cameron Smith -11
9 Justin Thomas -10
9 Sam Saunders -10
9 Webb Simpson -10
9 Brian Stuard -10
9 Talor Gooch -10
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: SONY OPEN
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“The last Web.com event at the TOUR Championship. I started the day somewhere around 30th, I want to say. It was the Monday finish, if you recall. I was like 1 over through seven holes or something. I was looking like it was going to be back to the Web.com. Finally pulled off a few good shots to get things going. I got to the last hole, and I saw that I was probably out if I missed the putt, and I got a 15-footer and made it. Events like that kind of go under the radar. I didn’t win the tournament, but to pull it off is a lot bigger playing for your job next year than winning a tournament sometimes.”
– Tom Hoge
Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images