Kevin Na settled for a 1-under 69 a day after going low at Charles Schwab Challenge again, taking a two-shot lead at 9 under Saturday over a group that included the local favorites Jordan Spieth and Jim Furyk.
Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion, hasn’t won in four years while Spieth’s winless streak approaches two years.
Both have a chance to end droughts at Colonial Country Club – if they can overtake Na.
‘I’m not really looking at it as like the glass is half empty, the hourglass has almost run out of sand,’ said the 49-year-old Furyk, who has just one of his 17 PGA TOUR victories in the past nine years but was second at the Players Championship in March.
‘This year has been kind of a new lease on life.’
Furyk, winless since 2015 at Hilton Head, matched the 68 of Spieth, whose last victory was his third major title at the 2017 Open Championship. Joining them at 7 under was C.T. Pan, who was tied with Na before bogeys on the final two holes. Pan settled for a 68 as well.
First-round leader Tony Finau (71) fell into the group at 7 under with a bogey on 18 after hitting his drive into the water while defending champion Justin Rose, the highest-ranked player in the field at No 3, shot his second 74 in three rounds and is 5 over.
Branden Grace is one shot ahead of Rose after a 73. The South African continues to struggle from tee to green – he hit 28.57% of the fairways and 38% of greens on Saturday. The silver lining was a good day with the putters as he turned his week’s putting stats into the positive after gaining nearly two strokes on the field with the flatstick.
