Nate Lashley is trying to go virtually wire-to-wire for his first PGA Tour victory.
The 36-year-old Lashley, who has led at the end of each day, shot a bogey-free 9-under-par 63 to build a six-stroke lead over J.T. Poston heading to the final round of the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club www.detroitgolfclub.org.
“(Winning would be) a life-changing event,” said Lashley, who since leaving the University of Arizona has won 10 times on the lower tours. “Try to play golf (on Sunday) and see what happens at the end of the day. I’ve never experienced anything like this. You don’t ever expect to shoot 9-under on the PGA Tour, and I’ve done it twice in three days.
“When I was flipping houses (after briefly quitting golf), I thought I was pretty much done with golf. I always felt like I had the talent and ability to play out here. It was just a matter of getting out here and getting comfortable.”
Lashley, who also opened with a career-low 63, carded four birdies on the front nine and five more coming home in round three, capped by a five-footer on the last hole to finish 54 holes at 23-under 193.
Poston made three late birdies in a 66, while Cameron Tringale of Laguna Nigel made his only bogey on the last hole in a 65 and is eight down in third, followed another shot back by Patrick Reed, who collected nine birdies in his own 65.
Doc Redman birdied four of the first eight holes en route to a 67 and is nine behind in a tie for fifth with Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia, who finished at 68, West Roach, who had a 67, and Peter Malnati, who wound up at 68.
Sungjae Im of South Korea shot 66 and is 10 back in a tie for ninth with Hideki Matsuyama (68) of Japan, Ted Potter Jr. (68), Joaquin Niemann (69) of Chile, Byeong Hun An (69) of South Korea and Charles Howell III (71).
Brandt Snedeker holed out from 99 yards for an eagle on the seventh hole of a 65 and is tied for 16th, J.B. Holmes is tied for 19th after a 70 and Rickie Fowler of Murrieta totaled 72 and is tied for 39th.
Rookie Cameron Champ of Sacramento, who started the day one stroke behind Lashley, struggled to a 75 playing in the final twosome and slid to a tie for 25th.
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