Munoz takes two-shot lead into final round

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Munoz is two clear at the top
  • Post published:July 9, 2017

Sebastian Munoz set himself up for his first PGA TOUR win with a steady 2-under 68 as the Colombian sits at 14-under and leads by two over Robert Streb at the Greenbrier Classic.

Streb shot 65 on Saturday to keep the pressure on, while rookie Xander Schauffele (66) and former prodigy Jamie Lovemark (66) will also try to chase down a maiden PGA TOUR win from three back at 11-under.

Another major storyline is that of Davis Love III. He shot a Saturday 68 to keep himself in the picture as he bids to become the  the oldest winner on the PGA TOUR. The 53-year-old is tied at -10 with Kelly Kraft (67) and Russell Henley (68).

While his birdie pace slowed to a trickle, Munoz overcame several miscues to stay atop the leaderboard. He saved par on the ninth hole after driving under a tree, regained the lead with a 26-foot birdie putt on the par-4 13th after driving into the rough, and added a 36-footer for birdie on the par-4 15th.

Streb, five strokes behind Munoz entering the day, birdied the 490-yard 11th and hit his 231-yard approach shot next to the flag and made eagle at the par-5 12th.

He’d like to do a little better than in 2015 at the tournament when he lost in a four-man playoff, won by Danny Lee.

That year, Streb broke his putter on the ninth hole in the final round when he tossed it at his bag next to the green. He made five birdie putts on the back nine with a 56-degree wedge. He was able to put a new putter in his bag for the playoff, but was eliminated on the first extra without ever getting to use it.

Streb’s only top-10 finish this season was a tie for ninth at the Farmers Insurance Open. Munoz is still looking to crack the top 10. At the FedEx St Jude Classic last month, Munoz was tied for the lead through 36 holes, but he played the final two rounds in 11 over and tied for 60th.

Love is among those trying to earn a spot in the British Open in two weeks. The leading four players not already exempt from the top 12 finishers will earn spots. Henley is the only player in the top 10 who has already qualified.

Age record-holder Sam Snead won the last of his eight titles at Greensboro in 1965 at 52 years, 10 months, 8 days. Love will try to break the mark at Snead’s former playground. Snead was the longtime head pro and pro emeritus at The Greenbrier resort. He died in 2002.

Kraft was tied for the lead with Munoz until making a double bogey at No 13 and bogey at No 14. Schauffele, another PGA TOUR rookie, shot on to the leaderboard with a 60-foot eagle putt at No 12.

Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images