Sony Open in Hawaii – Day 3 report

Jimmy Walker plays from the 10th tee during the third round of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club. Credit: Getty Images

(Image credit: Mike Ehrmann)

By Roderick Easdale

published 18 January 2015

Defending champion Jimmy Walker closed his third-round with 11 straight one putts to take a two-shot lead from Matt Kuchar into Sunday

Defending champion Jimmy Walker closed his third-round 62 with 11 straight one putts to go to 16 under and take a two-shot lead into the final day of the Sony Open in Hawaii. This is the third time Walker has been atop the leaderboard in a PGA Tour event going into the final day. Last year he went from this position to victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am; last week at Kapalua his final day ended in a play-off loss to Patrick Reed.

“Somebody is shooting a low round every day, and you never know where it's going to come from,” Walker said. “So you've got to go out with the expectation you've got to shoot a good score tomorrow.”

Without the strong winds blowing this week which are part of this course’s traditional defences, there has been a score of 62 each day. This has encouraged Matt Kuchar, one of three players tied for the lead at the start of Saturday, and who shot a 68 to lie alone in second place going into the final day, to say that anyone within six shots of the lead has a chance on Sunday.

If Kuchar is correct, this leaves one of his co-leaders after day two, Webb Simpson, still in the hunt despite a bad day. Simpson made three bogeys and just one birdie in a 72, and ending the day in an 11-way tie for eighth at 10 under.

The other joint leader at the start of the day, 21-year-old Justin Thomas, was playing in the final group on the weekend for the first time. He was tied for the lead through 12 holes until dropping a shot on the 13th, and another on the 16th, before a birdie on 18 left him four shots back in a tie for 5th.

With the large halfway cut of 85 players, 15 players missed the secondary cut of the Sony Open in Hawaii after round three. Among these was 16-year-old local amateur Kyle Suppa who added a 71 to his two 69s, to miss the cut by two shots.

One who missed the initial cut.was Robert Allenby who his caddie, Mick Middlemo reports, was kidnapped leaving a bar late on Friday night in Honolulu. Mr Middlemo says Allenby was beaten up and robbed of his wallet, mobile phone, cash and credit cards, before being dropped off in a park more than six miles away.

Sony Open in Hawaii leaderboard (opens in new tab)

Sony Open in Hawaii day two report

Sony Open in Hawaii day one report

Contributing Writer Golf courses and travel are Roderick’s particular interests and he was contributing editor for the first few years of the Golf Monthly Travel Supplement. He writes travel articles and general features for the magazine, travel supplement and website. He also compiles the magazine's crossword. He is a member of Trevose Golf & Country Club and has played golf in around two dozen countries. Cricket is his other main sporting love. He is the author of five books, four of which are still in print: The Novel Life of PG Wodehouse; The Don: Beyond Boundaries; Wally Hammond: Gentleman & Player and England’s Greatest Post-War All Rounder.