Justin Thomas is at the top of the leaderboard again.
Thomas (pictured), who won five times on the PGA Tour last season, shot 2-under-par 70 to tie Scott Brown for the lead after three rounds of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges in blustery conditions at Nine Bridge Golf Club in Jeju Island, South Korea.
“You can’t put it into words, but I know for a fact I played better today than I did on Thursday when I shot 9-under (63),” said Thomas, who has gone on to win four of the six times when he held at least a share of the 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour.
“It’s just so hard out here, especially on the greens. I’ve never played a place where the wind swirls as much as it does here. … I knew that I would have to stay patient, and I did. Today was a round I felt like I had at the end of the year, where I felt really like I was playing my best.”
Brown, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the 2013 Puerto Rico Open, shot 71 and is even with Thomas at 9-under 207.
Anirban Lahiri of India birdied three of the first six holes en route to a 69 and is two strokes back in a tie for third with Marc Leishman of Australia, who posted a 71, while Whee Kim of South Korea carded a 72 and is another shot behind in a tie for fifth with Cameron Smith, who totaled 73, and Lucas Glover, who had a 74.
Byeong Hun An of South Korea recorded a 67 and is four down in a tie for eighth with second-round leader Luke List, who struggled to a 76.
Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe and USC shot 68 and is one more stroke down in a tie for 10th with Paul Casey (68) of England, Brian Harman (72), Nick Taylor (72) of Canada, Kyle Stanley (73) and Chez Reavie (74).
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.
