Davis Riley takes the lead after Round 3 at the PGA Tour Sony Open in Hawaii, with tight competition behind and title defense still possible.
Davis Riley Leads Despite Mixed Round
After 74 players made the cut at -1 heading into the weekend of the PGA Tour event in Hawaii, Davis Riley surged to the top of the leaderboard on Moving Day thanks to numerous birdies. Despite an early bogey, the American remained composed and posted an effective, although fluctuating round with six birdies against three bogeys, including one on the closing hole.
Riley commented on the challenging wind and putting conditions: \”You have to try to hole some putts on the fast greens and in the wind when you get the chance.\” With a day score of -3, he now holds a total of -12, leading by two strokes over his closest pursuers Chris Gotterup, Kevin Roy, and Harry Hall heading into the final day.
Harry Hall Positions Himself Strongly for Final Day
Harry Hall delivered a strong Saturday with a -4 round, advancing significantly on the leaderboard before the finale. His five birdies highlighted his excellent play on and around the greens. He only suffered a bogey on the 15th hole. Having finished in the top 10 at last year’s Sony Open in Hawaii, the Englishman could be a contender for even more this time.
Title Defense and Notable Performances
Defending champion Nick Taylor had to temporarily step back from the lead on Saturday, shooting even par with four birdies and four bogeys. Currently at -9, he remains within striking distance for the final day and a potential title defense.
Right behind him is Corey Conners, who posted a strong -5 with seven birdies and two bogeys, sitting at -8 overall after Moving Day. Conners caught fire on the back nine with a streak of four consecutive birdies starting at hole 9, claiming the best round of the day despite windy conditions. \”I like it when it’s windy here,\” he said.