Leader's advantage cut to one after frustrating day on greens
Steve Marino still holds the lead heading into the final round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, although the chasing pack closed the gap on Saturday.
The American was four shots ahead heading into the third round but ended the day with just a one-stroke cushion after firing a one-over-par 71 at Monterey Peninsula, one of three venues being used this week.
Marino endured a frustrating day on the greens and mixed two birdies and an eagle, at the par-five sixth, with five bogeys to move back to a 12-under total.
The chase is being led by Jimmy Walker and Bryce Molder, the former having fired a sparkling seven-under 63 at Monterey and Molder a four-under 68 at Spyglass Hill.
Another American, D.A. Points, who had been alone in second place overnight, was a further stroke back at 10-under after carding a one-under 71 at Pebble Beach.
"It was kind of a strange round," Marino said after three-putting for bogey from just four feet on his final hole, the par-three ninth.
"I drove the ball probably better today than I did any other day, and hit some good iron shots. I just had trouble with the pace of the greens.
"I kept blowing my putts five or six feet by the hole and I had three three-putts today."
Although searching for a first win on the PGA Tour in five years, Marino does not believe he is 'owed' a breakthrough victory.
"I felt like I've had the game to win out here for a while," the 30-year-old, three times a runner-up on the Tour, said. "It just has not happened. I'm not going to say that I'm due. But I feel like I'm good enough to win on this tour."
Walker, like Marino bidding for a maiden victory, was delighted to be in the title hunt.
"I've won on the Nationwide Tour, and you can draw on that," the 32-year-old said after shooting a bogey-free round. "I think it will be fun.
"A lot of guys right up at the top haven't won (on the PGA Tour) and somebody is going to do it. I'm not going to do anything special, spectacular. A solid round tomorrow and just watch what happens."
Opportunities
Meanwhile, three-time winner Phil Mickelson, heads into the final round five shots off the pace after shooting a three-under-par 69.
The world number four gave himself an outside chance of claiming his first win of the season by making three birdies in his last five holes on the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
"I thought that the round could have been a lot better, but...I probably got as much out of the round there towards the end as I could have," the Masters champion said.
"Throughout the course of the day, I had many opportunities to go low and I didn't take advantage of them. I've got to go really low tomorrow to give myself a chance."
The cut fell at two-under, with former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Mark Wilson, a double winner already this season, among those failing to advance.
The American was four shots ahead heading into the third round but ended the day with just a one-stroke cushion after firing a one-over-par 71 at Monterey Peninsula, one of three venues being used this week.
Marino endured a frustrating day on the greens and mixed two birdies and an eagle, at the par-five sixth, with five bogeys to move back to a 12-under total.
The chase is being led by Jimmy Walker and Bryce Molder, the former having fired a sparkling seven-under 63 at Monterey and Molder a four-under 68 at Spyglass Hill.
Another American, D.A. Points, who had been alone in second place overnight, was a further stroke back at 10-under after carding a one-under 71 at Pebble Beach.
"It was kind of a strange round," Marino said after three-putting for bogey from just four feet on his final hole, the par-three ninth.
"I drove the ball probably better today than I did any other day, and hit some good iron shots. I just had trouble with the pace of the greens.
"I kept blowing my putts five or six feet by the hole and I had three three-putts today."
Although searching for a first win on the PGA Tour in five years, Marino does not believe he is 'owed' a breakthrough victory.
"I felt like I've had the game to win out here for a while," the 30-year-old, three times a runner-up on the Tour, said. "It just has not happened. I'm not going to say that I'm due. But I feel like I'm good enough to win on this tour."
Walker, like Marino bidding for a maiden victory, was delighted to be in the title hunt.
"I've won on the Nationwide Tour, and you can draw on that," the 32-year-old said after shooting a bogey-free round. "I think it will be fun.
"A lot of guys right up at the top haven't won (on the PGA Tour) and somebody is going to do it. I'm not going to do anything special, spectacular. A solid round tomorrow and just watch what happens."
Opportunities
Meanwhile, three-time winner Phil Mickelson, heads into the final round five shots off the pace after shooting a three-under-par 69.
The world number four gave himself an outside chance of claiming his first win of the season by making three birdies in his last five holes on the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
"I thought that the round could have been a lot better, but...I probably got as much out of the round there towards the end as I could have," the Masters champion said.
"Throughout the course of the day, I had many opportunities to go low and I didn't take advantage of them. I've got to go really low tomorrow to give myself a chance."
The cut fell at two-under, with former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Mark Wilson, a double winner already this season, among those failing to advance.
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