Here are nine tidbits from the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Be looking for the Emergency 9 shortly after the close of play of each round of the tournament. Cook-ing with Gas Austin Cook will carry the 54-hole lead into Sunday after posting the lowest round of the day with 64 at La Quinta Country Club. He torched the Nicklaus Tournament course in Round 1 with a 63 and survived the Stadium Course with 70 in Round 2. He’s only made two bogeys on the week, the same number of eagles that he’s circled. The 2017 RSM Classic champ will be looking to join Patton Kizzire as the only players with more than one win on TOUR this season. His nearest competitors haven’t won on TOUR but the next four listed on the scoreboard have done the business. The Cut The toughest part of this event for gamers is being patient. There were plenty of big rounds today that moved guys inside the line and will give them at least a chance tomorrow. The first time the Nicklaus Tournament and Stadium Course were in the rotation was 2016. The cut that year was nine-under-par so nobody should be terribly surprised eight was the number this year. When the winds gusted last year, the number fell on five-under so there’s not much room for rounds in the 70’s around these parts. Movers and Shakers Busy day Saturday as making the cut and getting into position were all in play. Of the 22 rounds 67 or lower, 21 were signed for on courses not named the Stadium Course. Going low on Saturday never hurts as 19 of the 21 players to shoot 67 or lower are going to play the weekend. John Huh and Stewart Cink both racked up 65 at La Quinta Country Club and both moved up 41 places to T-11. Course and Weather Management And then there was one. There’s no place to hide your players PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO as the Stadium Course will host the final round Sunday. Where was the wind on Saturday? Sure, it blew a bit but I don’t recall seeing any gusts of 40 mph! Grayson Murray and Nick Watney opened the week with 65’s on the Stadium Course. Kevin Chappell went one lower in round two as Bronson Burgoon added 66. If you are looking for wagon to hitch up to on Sunday, start here. More choices follow below! Great Scott Scott Piercy’s name could have been added to the section above but after his 66 on the Stadium Course, he gets his own spotlight. I noted his flash last week at Sony as his 65 on moving day caught my eye. This week he has added three more rounds in the 60’s to sit T4 entering Sunday. The Las Vegas resident has plenty of familiarity with desert golf and going low. Long-term investors will be happy to see his shoulder injury behind him as he looks for his first top 10 since the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational last May. Power Ball Seamus Power started on the Stadium Course with 70 so he knew he had work to do over his next two rounds. He’s flying into the weekend after 66 at La Quinta and one better today at Nicklaus Tournament. He’s only made one bogey in his last 41 holes and he’s bashed the par fives to the tune of 10-under for the week. He only had one top 10 last year as a rookie. A big finish this week will help him move up in the reshuffle category where he currently sits 28th. Been There, Done That Adam Hadwin’s is again reinforcing his love for golf in the Coachella Valley. The last two years he’s given it a run but hasn’t broken 70 on Sunday. He’s currently T6 and while he didn’t post a super-low one at La Quinta, scene of his 59 last year, I will point out he was bogey-free at the Stadium Course with an excellent 67 on Friday. He’ll be doing the chasing tomorrow and that might take the edge off. I’d expect another big finish. The Big-Name Game The movers and shakers are noted above but gamers are also pining for answers for those who didn’t fire this week. Zach Johnson, who was noted yesterday after his wonderful 64, reminded us that four rounds are needed this week. His 73 on the Stadium Course dropped him out of the top five to T21. I don’t have to remind you which course they are playing tomorrow. … Brian Gay was also noted yesterday and the former champ had a great chance to capitalize on his 64 from Friday at the Nicklaus Tournament layout. His 73 dropped him 26 spots to T33. … Sleepers Aaron Wise and Beau Hossler couldn’t break par on the Stadium Course Saturday and also dropped out of the top 10. … Patrick Reed and Brandt Snedeker both shot 67 to warm up for next week at Torrey Pines but just like Phil Mickelson, they’ll all get their earlier than expected after MC. Study Hall For the second day in a row an ace was made. Yesterday it was Harold Varner III and today it was Daniel Summerhays. Of the three aces made on TOUR this year, two are Utah natives Summerhays and Tony Finau. … Rory McIlroy had another big day in the desert (65) and is just one shot off the lead of Ross Fisher and Thomas Pieters (-17) entering the final round in Abu Dhabi. … Sergio Garcia remains one back at the Singapore Open as they are struggling to complete round three due to weather. … Jonathan Randolph withdrew before round three with a shoulder injury. Â
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