RBC Heritage notebook: Jason Kokrak back in contention
Jason Kokrak will get another shot at his first PGA Tour victory.
The 30-year-old contended at the Northern Trust Open this year before being clipped by Bubba Watson. Before that, he had only one runner-up finish on the PGA Tour, in 2012.
Kokrak survived a tough scoring day Saturday to shoot a second consecutive 68. He is 6 under, only a shot off Luke Donald’s lead in a tournament won by those back in the pack in recent years.
“I’m just trying not to put too much pressure on myself,” Kokrak said. “Not shooting at flags where I don’t need to, giving myself as many birdie opportunities as I can.”
Kokrak won twice on the Web.com Tour in 2011 but said after the Northern Trust Open that the PGA Tour was a different brand of competition.
“The more I put myself in position, the more comfortable I’ll be,” he said after the runner-up finish in February. “And I’ll look forward to it.”
Tough day for DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau grabbed a share of the lead early but faded fast, blaming his driver.
The U.S. Amateur and NCAA champion, making his professional debut, birdied three of his first four holes. But he was 4 over the rest of the way for a 1-over 72. He is tied for 13th.
DeChambeau said he was missing right with his driver and still isn’t getting putts to fall.
“And, look, I know I’m good enough to (win) out there, it’s just a matter of things falling my way and executing every single shot,” he said.
Fast and firm
Justin Leonard, who won at Harbour Town in 2002 and is playing in his 19th Heritage, said Saturday after his third round that “the greens are as fast as I’ve seen them and as firm as I’ve ever seen them.”
“This is the hardest I’ve seen it,” he said about the course. “But it’s in the best shape I’ve seen it. The fairways, the lies that we’re getting — you know the greens are great.”
Leonard (3 over for the tournament) saved par on No. 18 after finding the sand, but ended the round with a 72.
Roll Tide, War Eagle
Jason Bohn (5 over), an Alabama alum, said he and friend Jason Dufner (3 over), an Auburn alum, “give each other a little grief” on the golf course.
The two were paired together for the third round.
“He’s definitely a big Auburn fan and, I gotta tell you, I’m a pretty big Alabama fan,” Bohn said. “So right now my stride’s a little bit quicker than his, and I stand just slightly taller. ... But that can switch in a hurry.”
Particularly around Thanksgiving: This year’s Iron Bowl is Nov. 26.
Third time the charm
Whee Kim (2 under 68) had one of the early low rounds Saturday, and he cited his turnaround on No. 16 as the reason.
Kim bogeyed that hole in the first and second rounds. Why? Because both times he’d ended up behind that pesky tree in the middle of the fairway.
He’d hit driver both times, and Saturday he switched to a 3-wood. But ... same result. Behind the tree. He found the bunker with his second shot but managed a par.
5-time champion Love fades
Five-time Heritage champion and 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup captain slipped down the leaderboard with a third-round 77.
Love said earlier in the week he would fold in captain’s duties to his week but hoped to compete. He made the cut at Harbour Town, but on Saturday carded four bogeys in five holes on the front nine before closing out a 77. He is tied for 65th.
This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 7:21 PM with the headline "RBC Heritage notebook: Jason Kokrak back in contention."