Potter Fires 5-Under 67, Three Behind Leaders in Puerto Rico

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Golfer Magazine

Ted Potter is bound to receive a lot of TV time today when he tees off in the third group from the end in the $3 million Puerto Rico Open.

Ted fashioned a sharp 5-under-par 67 over the Grand Reserve Country Club course in Rio Grande, winding up the day in a tie for eighth place at 11 under. He's just three strokes behind the leaders - Grayson Murray and Rafael Campos - and another big round could get him his third PGA Tour victory. The winner picks up a cool $540,000.

Murray shot 7-under 65 for 202, 14 under, and Campos shot 5-under 67, and they lead by one stroke over Cameron Percy and Brandon Grace. There are another three tied for fifth at 12 under.

Ted began round 3 with a bogey on No. 1, but birdies on the par-4 seventh and par-3 eighth got him to 1 under. After a par on 10, he went bananas with consecutive birdies on the par-3 11th, par-4 12th, par-4 13th and par-4 14th, giving him six birdies in a span of eight holes. A three-putt bogey on No. 16, wit the TV cameras on him, set Ted back briefly, but he rebounded with a birdie on the par-4 17th.

Ted tees off at 12:08 with Vegas and Brandon Wu, the 36-hole leader who fell off the pace with a Saturday 71.

STILL ALIVE - Brooks Koepka and Billy Horschel are still very much in the hunt at WGC event in Bradenton, both at 13 under par, and two strokes behind Collin Morikawa.

Seminole Koepka added a 70 to his 67 and 66 for 203, and Gator Horschel posted a 69 after a pair of 67s. Webb Simpson is another stroke back at minus 12, followed by Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed at minus 11.

OCALA BOUND - Nelly Korda, third-round leader at the Gainbridge LPGA event in Orlando is headed for Golden Ocala this week for the LPGA Drive On Championship presented by Volvik.

The others right behind Nelly are all coming, too - including Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko, Chella Choi, Angel Yin, Stacy Lewis, In Gee Chun and Patty Tavatanakit.

CHAMPIONS - Lefty Mike Weir leads the Cologuard Classic in Tucson by two strokes with 66-67-133, 13 under par. Kevin Sutherland is alone in second at 11 under.

OTHERS OF NOTE: Tim Petrovic made a hole in one on 14 yesterday after getting an ace on 16 on Friday. He's 8 under, tied for fifth.

Phil Mickelson is 4 under, so he won't have the distinction of winning his first three events among the senior group unless he shoots 58 or so.

Gators: Scott Dunlap is 5 under, tied for 15th; Chris DiMarco is 9 over, tied for 76th.

Tom Lehman, architect of Ocala's Trilogy course, is 3 under, tied for 30th.

Marco Dawson, one-time touring pro for Ocala's defunct Adena Springs, is even, tied for 42nd.

Former pitcher John Smoltz is 4 over, tied for 61st.

Shane Bertsch, formerly of Palatka, is 4 over.