Charles Howell III shot a 68 on Saturday at Sea Island Golf Club and will enter the final round of The RSM Classic clinging to a one-shot lead.
The 39-year old Georgian finished his day at the par-70 Seaside course with 10 pars, five birdies, and three bogeys en route to a 54-hole score of 16-under par.
“Yeah, I got off to a really nice start, which was really good to kind of calm me down a bit and kind of get today going. Didn’t really finish off with much of anything to speak of,” said Howell III.
“Yeah, I knew some — the scores behind me would be low, especially with some of the finishing holes here, I knew the guys would make some birdies and close the gap if I didn’t keep going and that’s what happened.
“I’ve got a chance to win the golf tournament tomorrow and I would have taken that Thursday morning, no doubt.”
Just one back was rising star Cameron Champ, who finished with a 66 to sit T2 at 15-under par, alongside Jason Gore (66).
Two further back was tournament favorite Webb Simpson, who signed for a bogey-free 63 to share fourth-place with Ryan Blaum (65) at 13 under, one clear of Luke List (63).
The day’s top score belonged to Patrick Rodgers who reeled off eight birdies over his final 12 holes en route to a low-round 61 and a three-day score of 11 under par. Rodgers was T7 alongside Zach Johnson (65), Brian Gay (65), and David Hearn (67).
THE RSM CLASSIC
TOP 5 LEADERS: ROUND THREE
Pos-Player-To Par (Today)
1. Charles Howell III -16 (-2)
2. Jason Gore -15 (-4)
2. Cameron Champ -15 (-4)
4. Webb Simpson -13 (-7)
4. Ryan Blaum -13 (-5)
VIDEO: ROUND-3 HIGHLIGHTS
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AzhWWI8Bg6AO
QUOTABLE
“Man, Cameron (Champ), he’s got a bright future ahead of him. I’ve never seen an iron hit as hard as he hits it, holy cow. I mean, I think he might have hit two drivers today maybe. So it’s — I’ve never quite seen a 3-iron fly the way his does.”
– Charles Howell III
