Veazey leads by one over group of four in Panama
PANAMA CITY, Panama – A pristine morning of warm sunshine and gentle breezes greeted players at the Panama Digicel Championship today, and the field seized the opportunity and posted some of the lowest rounds of the week. Vance Veazey emerged on top after firing a 2-under-par 68 to finish the day at 6-under, one shot ahead of four others – Len Mattiace, Jim Herman, Jeff Gove and Camilo Benedetti. Benedetti, born in Medellin, Columbia is also the only sponsor exemption to make the cut.Veazey, a three-time Nationwide Tour winner and the 2005 champion, looks to become the first two-time winner here.
“I didn’t hit the ball quite as well today but I made some key putts when I had to, like a six-footer for par on 17,” said Veazey, who is one of the better putters on the Nationwide Tour. He ranked 38th and 14th in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
Today’s wind was light, a blessing for many players on the course that played as the toughest on Tour in the 2008. Veazey has a different perspective. “I hope the wind comes up a bit tomorrow – it benefits me,” he said. “I keep the ball down and have a lot of experience playing in the wind Memphis.” Veazey finished T10 at the PGA TOUR Stanford St. Jude Championship in 2007 in windy conditions.
Asked about his mindset for Sunday as the 54-hole leader of the first official Nationwide Tour event of 2009, Veazey said “It feels terrific to get off to a good start. I have great memories here and have been in this situation before.” When Veazey won here three years ago, he also held the lead after the third round and shot even-par 70 to win by one stroke.
He will have no easy task with thirteen players are within three shots of the lead.
“The scores are always very tight at this event,” said former PGA TOUR winner and Jacksonville, Fla. resident Len Mattiace. “I started six strokes back today and finished just one shot behind the leader – anything can happen over the weekend.”
Second-round leader Rafael Gomez of Argentina finished with a 1-over-par 71 and tied for sixth with Esteban Toledo and Chris Smith at 4-under for the event.
Third Round Notes:
Justin Hicks and Len Mattiace posted the low rounds of the week with a pair of 64s. This is one stroke off the course record of 63 (held by three players). They both shot 4-under-par 31 on the front-nine, which is also one stroke shy of the front-nine record of 30 (held by four players).
John Riegger holed out on the 18th for an eagle-2. The 465-yard par-4 is the second most difficult on the course through three rounds, with a scoring average of 4.194. There have been only two eagles on the hole previously – Chez Reavie (2006, round one) and Sean Pacetti (2005, round two).
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