SOUTHAMPTON – Bermuda Seamus PowerHes a good enough player to know the Port Royal wind and weather conditions so he knew he had to score early. He did just that, added a few more birdies late, and had another 6-under 65 for the lead. Ben GriffinIn the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Power putted a 30-foot birdie putt at the challenging par-3 16th, and a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 17th to make up for his single mistake, a double-bogey on 13th.
Griffin continued the same pattern in strong winds, with three birdies to start his round. Griffin kept his approach under the wind for the 18th to 5ft for birdie, and a 66.
They were at 18-under195, two shots ahead Kevin Yu(67) Aaron Baddeley (68).
Power at No. Port Royals highest-ranked player is 48.
The 35-year-old Irishman is used to windy conditions. He has played the Bermuda Championship in the past few seasons.
Power said, I knew that I had to get birdsies before 11.
He made four consecutive birdies and was 6 under for day, until a missed green and poor chips resulted in a double bogey at the 13th.
One mistake. Power stated that the wind drifted it an insane amount. But I was still able to hang on and it puts me in good shape going into tomorrow.
The 16th hole is the most difficult because the green is right at the ocean and the wind was blowing from left to right.
Power laughed and said, I don’t know how comfortable it gets when you get to 16 where you have to aim your ball in to the ocean. The putt was placed on the low side of a hole and finished pin-high to the right flag.
Power has one PGA Tour triumph, the Barbasol Championship last year in Kentucky. He would love nothing more then to win the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky last year.
Griffin believes that Griffin is more concerned about the stakes.
He gave up playing the game years ago and was working as an officer in a loan mortgage department when he was inspired by playing in a member guest. Members donated money to enable him Monday to qualify for a Korn Ferry Tour.
This was the beginning of baby steps – he made it through Korn Ferry Tour qualifying and then, last year, he earned his full card onto PGA Tour.
A victory Sunday includes a two year exemption
Griffin stated, Its been surreal the last year and two-months of being comfortable on the course and just trying to win. When youre playing minitour events and trying to grind for top 10, just to break even, or have enough money to do a Monday qualifier, its definitely not the easiest.
Now that my freedom is a bit more, I can go out and win golf tournaments.
Ben CraneHe started the third round with an unbeaten record in 2014 and was leading by one shot. He then struggled down the final stretch with four bogeys over a five-hole stretch, before he birdied his last hole for a score of 73. He fell six shots behind.
