Wheatcroft takes command in Maryland, increases his lead to eight shots
COLLEGE PARK, Maryland – It’s his to lose. Only a catastrophe by the leader or a miracle from a distant challenger will keep Steve Wheatcroft from the winner’s circle at the Melwood Prince George’s County Open on Sunday afternoon.Wheatcroft fired a 6-under-par 65 Saturday and extended his lead to a record-setting eight strokes after 54 holes at the University of Maryland Golf Course. The 33-year old Indiana University grad is a whopping 22-under par and eight shots in front of Nicholas Thompson (64) with only 18 holes to go.
England’s Greg Owen (68) is alone in third, 10 shots behind.
Erik Compton (66), J.J. Killeen (66) and Jon Mills (68) share fourth place at 11-under par.
The end is in sight for Wheatcroft, who has never won on the either the Nationwide Tour or the PGA TOUR, and prior to Friday had never held the lead after any single round in 128 combined starts.
“Today’s the day I was nervous about,” said Wheatcroft, who fired a 10-under 60 in Friday’s second round and began the day with a seven-stroke bulge, the largest 36-hole lead in Nationwide Tour history. “A seven-shot lead is one thing with nine holes to go but when you have 36 holes to go on a tough golf course that has a lot of rough and trouble, seven shots can go quickly.”
Wheatcroft never let anybody get close. Birdies at Nos. 1, 4, 7, 8 and 9 pushed him to 20-under par and kept the field at a distance.
“Once I get through two and five, those are the holes that have been giving me fits all week, once we get through those it’s green light, it’s time to run,” he said. “I feel like every hole is a birdie hole after that.”
Wheatcroft gave himself plenty of chances before closing with birdies at Nos. 16 and 18 to up the lead to eight, which also goes into the books as the largest 54-hole lead in Tour history.
“I tried to not do one thing different today than what I’ve been doing,” said Wheatcroft. “One shot, eight shots or 20 shots, let’s go play golf. This is the way I play, I’m fairly aggressive to begin with. I won’t do anything stupid – I won’t chase pins with crazy shots but if I feel good on a shot we’re going right at it.”
His ready, aim, fire approach has been nearly perfect, along with his putting, which continues to be his strength. Wheatcroft has only 71 putts in 54 holes to lead the field.
“I’m still hitting some loose shots here and there with the irons but the putter has been great,” he said. “It’s definitely one of the best weeks I’ve ever played and it’s one of the putting best weeks. I like these weeks where I’m seeing the lines and I’m hitting my lines beautifully.”
Thompson will get the up close look in Sunday finale but knows it’s going to be tough to catch the man they call “Wheatie.”
“It’s a tough one to swallow but what can I do now? I can’t shoot any lower, I just finished,” Thompson joked with reporters after turning in a scorecard that had nine birdies. “I birdied half the course so I can’t complain too much. Anything below a 66 and you should move up, which I did but I didn’t gain much on the leader.”
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