Spencer Levin builds lead to six in Phoenix
Following his second-round, 8-under 63 in round two, Spencer Levin posted a third-round 3-under 68 to jump to 17-under 196 and a six-stroke lead over Webb Simpson at the Phoenix Open. His 196 equals the fourth-best first 54-hole score in tournament history, behind Rocco Mediate and Mark Calcavecchia in 2001, and Steve Jones in 1997.The last player to make the Phoenix Open his first tour win was J.B. Holmes in 2006. Levin’s career-best finish is a playoff loss at the 2011 Mayakoba Golf Classic.
Levin’s six-stroke lead is tied for third best in the category of largest 54-hole-lead in this tournament. Byron Nelson held a 12-stroke lead after 54 holes in this event in 1939 at Phoenix Country Club. Johnny Miller led by seven in 1975, and at TPC Scottsdale. Mark Calcavecchia (2001) and Steve Jones (1999) each held a six-stroke lead after the third round.
Two of the previous 54-hole leads have held up so far this year: tournament 54-hole leader/margin of victory - Hyundai T of C Steve Stricker/+5 +3, Sony Open in HI Mark Wilson/+3 +2
The largest 54-lead on tour outside of the majors in 2011 was a 5-strokes by Rory Sabbatini at The Honda Classic. Sabbatini won by one.
Levin has never previously held the lead/co-lead after 54 holes on tour. He finished T6 after starting the final round of last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in solo second place.
In three starts this season, Levin has finished T23 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, T64 at the Humana Challenge and T43 at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Despite his position heading into the final round, Levin has not excelled off the tee. In rounds one and two, he respectively hit eight and seven of 14 fairways. In round three, he hit nine of 14 fairways.
Through three rounds, Levin has just two bogeys. Following his bogey at the 10th (his first hole of the tournament) hole in the first round, Levin didn’t make another until the par-5 15th in round
three, a span of 49 holes.
Webb Simpson
Simpson shot 70 with a 3-under 68 and is 11-under in second place.
Simpson, the highest- ranked player in the field this week (No. 6), is making his fourth start at TPC Scottsdale. In 2009, finished in 65th place, missed the cut in 2010 and tied for eighth place in 2011 (70-66-67-67—270/-14).
The 26-year-old Simpson, who finished second in the 2011 FedExCup, finished in the top 10 in six of his final seven events in 2011 (including two victories and a runner-up finish). With a T3 finish at the Hyundai tournament of Champions and a T38 at the Sony Open in Hawaii to open up the season, he is now seeking his eighth top-10 finish in his last 10 starts on tour.
Chris Stroud
A day after his 30th birthday, which drew quite the enthusiasm from the crowd surrounding the famed 16th hole yesterday, Chris Stroud turned in a 5-under 66 in round three. He trails the lead by eight.
Stroud is making his third start of the season this week. Following a T13 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, he missed the cut at the Humana Challenge two weeks ago.
Stroud has missed the cut in each of his three previous starts at TPC Scottsdale (2008, 2010, 2011).
Still in search of his first PGA tour win, Stroud enjoyed a banner year in 2011, marked by eight top-10 finishes. His career-best finish is fourth-place honors at the 2011 Mayakoba Golf Classic.
John Huh
John Huh posted a 2-under 69 to move to 10-under 203. Currently T3, the PGA tour rookie has been positioned no worse than seventh after six of his last seven rounds. Last week at the Farmers Insurance Open, he was T4, T7, T2 and eventually T6. Through three rounds this he has held positions of T21, T3 and is now T3.
Prior to 2012, Huh had never played on either the PGA tour or Nationwide tour. He earned his rookie berth onto the PGA tour by virtue of his T24 finish at the PGA tour Qualifying tournament.
Huh is making his third start of the season. In addition to the T6 at the Farmers Insurance Open, he began his tour career two weeks earlier, finishing 53rd at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Bubba Watson
Bubba chipped in form 33 feet for an eagle-3 at the third hole en route to a 4-under 67. He will begin the final round seven strokes back of the leader.
Watson is making his sixth start in the event, with his best finish being a T8 in his first start of 2007.
Watson announced last week that PING will donate $300 to cancer research for each of his drives over 300 yards. Through three rounds this week, Watson has posted 32 such drives.
Kyle Stanley
At last week’s Farmers Insurance Open, it was re-affirmed that no lead is ever safe. With a three-stroke lead and one hole to play, Kyle Stanley succumbed in a playoff to Brandt Snedeker. Stanley is back this week and in position to create another massive comeback scenario. At nine-under after rounds of 69-66-69,
Stanley will begin the final round eight off the lead. Last week, he began the final round with a five-stroke lead. The second-year pro from Washington is making his first start in the Phoenix Open.
Miscellaneous Notes
Mark Calcavecchia (MC) and Billy Mayfair (68-73-70) are playing this event for the 26th time. The 26 starts are tied for the second-most in tournament history – Gene Littler had 28 starts from 1955-1984.
Seven past tournament champions are in the field this week. Here is how they fared the first three days:
2005 Phil Mickelson (1996) 68-70-67—205
2007 Aaron Baddeley 72-67-74—213
2011 Mark Wilson 70-69-74—213
2008 J.B. Holmes (2006) 71-70-72—213
2009 Kenny Perry 70-72-72—214
2001 Mark Calcavecchia (1989, 1992) 75-76—151/MC
2003 Vijay Singh (1995) 76-WD
All Six former Arizona State Sun Devils made the cut this week:
Phil Mickelson 68-70-67—205
Matt Jones 67-72-67—206
Jeff Quinney 69-71-70—210
Billy Mayfair 68-73-70—211
Chez Reavie 66-76-72—214
Pat Perez 69-73-66—208
Bogey-free rounds:
R1: Kevin Na (66), Jason Dufner (64), Bo Van Pelt (65), Chad Campbell (71 – 18 pars)
R2: Spencer Levin (63), Charles Howell III (68), Martin Flores (68)
R3: Ben Crane (68), Jeff Maggert (68), Sunghoon Kang (69)
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