Adam Hadwin back in contention at Desert Classic

LA QUINTA, Calif. – Adam Hadwin’s Desert Classic success continued Friday with a 66 at La Quinta Country Club. At 13-under 133, Hadwin is three shots behind leader Phil Mickelson. And Hadwin has yet to play the easiest of the three courses in use this week, PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament Course. He’ll play there on Saturday. This is the fourth consecutive year that Hadwin is contending in the California desert. He finished sixth in the 2016 Desert Classic, runner-up the next year (after shooting a third-round 59 at La Quinta) and third last year. “I’m playing some extremely good golf again here in the desert and just got to keep moving forward,â€� he said. He is 72 under par over the last 14 rounds at this event, 14 shots lower than anyone else. Bud Cauley is second at 58 under par, Charles Howell III is third at 53 under, followed by Mickelson at 52 under. Hadwin hit 13 greens on Friday after hitting all 18 in his first round at PGA West’s Stadium Course, which will host Sunday’s final round. The Canadian can count on support at this event from his countrymen who live in La Quinta during the winter, and the courses here remind him of the ones he plays in his adopted hometown of Phoenix. “I play on this grass, this overseeded grass all the time,â€� he said. “There’s definitely a comfort level with the courses and the type of grass and the greens and so it probably helps reading putts, seeing break.â€� He has just two bogeys this week.

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