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Danny Lee putts narrowly missed his birdie putt on the 9th - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS | Consulting LLC |
4:45 p.m.
After a two-plus hour rain delay that began at 1:15 p.m., play resumed under clearer and sunny skies with Danny Lee clinging to a two-shot lead (-17) ahead of playing partner Andrew Putnam.
As all players were in place by 3:30 p.m. to resume play, Lee birdied the 7th hole and extended his lead back up to three shots ahead of the field.
Lee went on to par the 8th hole while Putnam fell behind with a double-bogey.
No sooner had Lee dropped his putt when both second-round leader and local favorite Chesson Hadley and playing partner Josh Broadaway each eagled the par-5 ninth to make things interesting as they put themselves only three shots behind Lee.
As both Lee and Putnam missed opportunities to put themselves in any position to score eagles to end their front nine, they both finished with par as Lee stood at -18, followed closely behind by Loar (-16), Hadley (-15), and Broadaway (-15).
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Rex Hospital Open - Danny Lee & Andrew Putnam prepare to tee off - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC |
1 p.m.
As the entire field is now off the first tee at TPC Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, N.C., the chase to catch 54-hole leader Danny Lee is on.
After three holes, Lee is even and sitting at -17 while his playing partner Andrew Putnam has gotten one stroke closer at -14.
The biggest movers near the top of the board include Len Mattiace as his 3-under par through seven holes has brought him to within five shots of the lead.
Can he pull of an 8 or 9-under par final round to put pressure on Lee?
Or will it be Ed Loar or Chesson Hadley, who are both even through three and five holes respectively, making a big run on the back nine?
Throw in the possibility of inclement weather and who knows what will happen.
More to come soon.