Rollins grabs lead at Torrey Pines
Posted: Sat Feb 7 6:53 PM
La Jolla, CA (Sports Network) - Despite a bogey at the final hole, John Rollins posted a two-under 70 on Saturday and grabbed the top spot on the leaderboard after the third round of the Buick Invitational.
Rollins finished 54 holes at the South Course at Torrey Pines at 12-under 204 and is three clear of first- and second-round leader Camilo Villegas, who struggled to a two-over 74 on Saturday.
Nick Watney shot a one-under 71 and is alone in third place at minus-seven. Luke Donald (71) and Paul Goydos (72) are knotted in fourth at six-under 210.
After play rotated over both the North and South Courses in the first two rounds, all golfers teed it up on the more-difficult South Course for the weekend.
Intermittent rain showers hit the course, but play was never halted on Saturday. That was a good thing for Rollins, who started one behind Villegas after a spectacular 64 on Friday at the South Course.
Rollins pulled even with Villegas thanks to a 12-foot birdie putt at the second. He moved in front after a beautiful six-iron approach to nine feet at the fourth.
A five-foot birdie from Rollins at the par-five sixth gave him a two-shot lead, then Villegas helped pad the advantage. The overnight leader drove into the right rough at seven and failed to convert a five-footer to save par.
Things got worse for Villegas at the par-five ninth. He hit a terrible shot out of a greenside bunker well over the green and walked off with a double- bogey. Rollins now had a five-shot cushion, but Villegas got one back with a nine-foot birdie at 11.
Rollins three-putted the 12th green for a bogey and his margin slipped to three. Both players birdied the par-five 13th in a driving rain, but Villegas three-putted the 14th green for a bogey.
Rollins gave one back when he missed a seven-footer for par at No. 15. Each golfer had decent looks for birdie at 16, but neither converted.
After both squandered makable chances at 16, Rollins cashed in on a long birdie attempt at the 17th. Villegas did well enough to save par from a bunker, but now found himself down four.
Rollins allowed Villegas to move one shot closer after a mistake at the last. He hit a poor third shot at the par-five closing hole that left him 40 feet for birdie. Rollins three-putted from there after his three-footer for par lipped out of the hole.
Even with the hiccup at the last, Rollins still holds a three-shot lead with the final round to play. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing depending on how you look at it.
This event is known for substantial final-round comebacks, but perhaps most important is Rollins' record with the 54-hole lead. This marked fourth time he has held at least a piece of it, but failed to win in any of his three previous tries. Rollins' two wins on tour were both come-from-behind victories.
Charles Warren (68), Lucas Glover (69) and Charley Hoffman (74) share sixth place at five-under 211. Aaron Baddeley (70), J.J. Henry (71), George McNeill (71) and Mathew Goggin (73) are knotted in ninth at minus-four.
Three-time winner Phil Mickelson only managed a one-over 73 on Saturday and is tied for 20th place at one-under 215.
"Not what I was hoping for," acknowledged Mickelson. "I thought a good round would get me back in it, and I didn't get off to the best start, but it was playing tough today, and I just didn't quite put it together."
