J.B. Holmes shot a four-under-par 68 Saturday on the South Course to share the lead with Harris English through three rounds of the $6.3 million Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
Holmes began the round five shots behind English, the second-round leader, then had a round of seven birdies and three bogeys to go to nine-under- par for the tournament.
“I hit it really well all day and putted well,” said Holmes, a three- time winner on the PGA Tour, including last year’s Wells Fargo Championship.
Holmes had his 2011 season cut short when he was diagnosed with structural defects in the cerebellum and underwent brain surgery to repair Chiari malformations.
English, who became the first golfer since 2011 to complete the first two rounds of the tournament without a bogey, had a double-bogey on the fourth hole in a round of one-over-par 73.
“It’s hard to play Torrey Pines and not (have) a difficult day,” English said. “This is a hard golf course. This is one where pars are good.”
English said he “didn’t want the double bogey to get me frustrated and then to start pressing a little bit and trying to make birdies, because once you do that and you start hitting some crazy shots… that’s where you make more bogeys.”
English parred each of the next eight holes after his double bogey, birdied the 13th and bogeyed the 17th.
“I felt like I did a good job maintaining my composure and playing my game,” English said. “I feel like I had a good stretch there hitting the ball 15 to 20 feet a lot of holes and giving my putter a chance.”
There are five golfers tied for third at eight-under 208 — Lucas Glover, Jimmy Walker, Spencer Levin, Chad Campbell and Nick Watney.
The tournament will conclude Sunday. The winner receives $1.134 million.
—City News Service
