Zac Blair has never won as a pro, but will have a chance to break through on the PGA Tour on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Blair shot 6-under-par 64 in the third round, even though he missed a two-foot birdie putt on the final hole, and was tied for the lead with Brandt Snedeker in the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.
“I just pulled (that putt at No. 18),” said Blair (pictured), who lives in St. George, Utah, and was an All-American at BYU. “I feel like if I can keep doing what I’m doing, getting the ball in play, getting it on the green, make a few putts. I’ve missed a couple of shorter ones, but it’s been good.
“I’m going to stick with my game plan and if I can make some putts, it should be good. … I think it just kind of comes down to getting the ball in the hole, and if you’re able to do that, you obviously seem to be finding yourself at the top of the leaderboard more often than not.”
Snedeker, who tied for third last week in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and was the 36-hole leader on Friday at Waialae, posted a bogey-free 66 that included two birdies on each nine.
“I just have to make some putts tomorrow,” Snedeker said. “Every day is different. I just want to go out and compete and find a way to win.”
Kevin Kisner, the FedEx Cup points leader who claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic in November, posted a second straight 66 and was one stroke back in third, followed another shot behind by Si Woo Kim of South Korea, who sank a 12-foot eagle putt on the last hole to cap a 65. Fabian Gomez of Argentina was four strokes behind in fifth, also after a 65.
Matt Kuchar finished with six straight birdies to card a 62 and was five shots back in a tie for sixth with Webb Simpson (65), Jeff Overton (64), Gary Woodland (66), Daisuke Kataoka (64) of Japan, Jason Dufner (65) and Sean O’Hair (68).
Two-time defending champion Jimmy Walker carded a 65 and was tied for 31st, while
Adam Scott of Australia, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 11 in the world, posted a third straight 68 and was tied for 52nd.
