Luke List has never won on the PGA Tour, but finds himself in sole in possession of the lead heading to the final round of the Honda Classic.
The 33-year-old List hit a remarkable shot out of the sand to within 19 inches for a closing birdie to complete a 4-under-par 66 and take a one-stroke lead over Justin Thomas and Webb Simpson on the Champion Course at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
“The win turned around and some holes played easier today,” said List, whose only pro victory came in the 2012 South Georgia Classic on what is now the Web.com Tour. “I got off to a good start and made (four) birdies on the front nine.
“This course is still a good test and it was tougher on the back, but I made a bunch of pars and then a couple birdies near the end. It just takes a lot of patience and I just want to keep doing what I’ve been doing so far.”
List, who made a nice bogey saved out of the sand on No. 17, posted a 54-hole score of 7-under 203.
Thomas, who has claimed six of his seven PGA Tour victories in the last two seasons, had four birdies on the back nine in a 65, while Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, carded a bogey-free 66.
“The course played a bit easier without so much wind,” said Thomas, the 2017 PGA Tour Player of the Year who won five times last season, including the PGA Championship. “It would be great to win the Honda Classic because it always has a strong field and the list of champions is impressive.
“It would be nice to join that list, but there’s a lot of golf to be played tomorrow, but I’m happy to be in this position.”
Second-round co-leader Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe and USC stumbled only when he hit his tee shot into the water on the 16th hole to make a double bogey-5 and shot 68, leaving him two shots behind in a tie for third with Tommy Fleetwood of England, who shot 67.
Alex Noren of Sweden holed a four-foot eagle putt on the last hole to total 65 and is three down in solo sixth, followed one more shot back by Kelly Kraft, who had a 66, and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa is five behind in ninth after a 69.
Daniel Berger finished at 70 and is six back in a tie for 10th with Rory Sabbatini of South Africa, the 2011 Honda Classic winner, who came in at 71.
Tiger Woods, in the third event of his comeback, broke 70 for the first time since he returned and is tied for 11th, while 10-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland struggled to a 73 and is tied for 63 rd.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.
