MEMPHIS: Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello chipped in on successive holes on his way to a five-under 65 and a share of the lead after the third round at the St Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday.
Americans Stewart Cink (69) and Ben Crane (68) joined Bello at the top on a crowded leaderboard, with eight players bunched within two strokes with one round left at TPC Southwind.
There is never a bad time to chip in, but Bello’s first hole-out, from 50 feet at the par-five third, steadied the ship after a morale-sapping bogey at the first.
“The chip-in for sure took the pressure off the round a little bit and helped me find my game,” said Bello, who subsequently holed out from 30 feet at the par-three fourth and then completed a hat-trick of birdies by sinking a 20-foot putt at the next.
“I’m playing good. I’m confident on the greens. I think I’m playing this course in a smart way well and obviously putting good.”
Cabrera Bello, in his first season as a PGA Tour member, observed that course conditions often changed drastically during tournament week.