THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP COMING UP SEPT. 8-11 at the Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana. Jason Day Defending Champion, see BMWChampionshipusa.com. ______________________________________________________________________
The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to the John Deere Classic, and on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.
Round 2 is in the books, the cut was made on Saturday morning at -3 and 73 players made the cut.
Round 3 got underway at 1:30 with the players going off both tee’s and in threesomes.
When Round 2 ended, Wesley Bryant was still the leader at 12 under par, but he had company at the top of the leader board in the person of Ryan Moore. Steve Marino was in third place just one shot back. Moore had a birdie put on his last hole for sole possession for the lead but could not convert. Zach Johnson played much of Round 2 at 1 over par, but a late birdie for the John Deere Classic board member left him where he finished Round 1, at 6 under par.
The rare sight was Steve Stricker needing a birdie to stay for the weekend, with only 3 holes to play in his second round. But he put his approach shot to 8 feet on the Par 3, 16th and made that. Then his chip to 7 inches on the Par 5, 17th gave him an insurance birdie.
Both media day guests Charlie Danielson and Aaron Wise playing on sponsors exemptions made the cut. Wise on the number at 3 under par, Danielson at 4 under par after a rocky finish of bogey-double bogey-bogey.
Some other locals making the cut were, Mark Wilson of Elmhurst, former Illini Golfer Scott Langley. Patrick Rodgers a former WGA Junior Champion at Blue Mound CC, was one of the first leaders, but had to make birdie on the last hole to make the cut.
Playing the long par 4, 9th hole called Howitzer. Rodgers hit his drive about 350 yards, and then stiffed his approach shot to 5 feet. With the cut on the line, Rodgers calmly made the putt for birdie and a ticket to the weekend. Former Illini players DA Points was three under par and backed up to 1 over par to miss the cut, along with Luke Guthrie who finished at 2 over par.
Round 3 play started at 1:30 PM, with the leaders teeing off at 3:30 PM local time.
The afternoon wasn’t much better for Zach Johnson, who after 36 holes, wasn’t any better off than he was when he started the day. In 36 holes Johnson didn’t gain one shot, and was still at 6 under par after a bogey on 18.
The news was better for the Illini guys. Danielson had it to ten under par, but a bogey on the ninth hole his final hole left him at 9 under par. Danielson made eagle on 18 when he holed a 9 Iron from 150 yards. Right behind him was Stricker who made a couple of afternoon birdies and finished at 7 under par.
The real story of Round 3 was the late finish in the dark, but some lighted scoreboards around the 18th green allowed the players on the back side to finish. Played ended at 8:26 in the dark and with the bugs swarming.
When it was over Ryan Moore after his third straight 6 under par 65 that left him at 18 under par, held a 1 shot lead over Ben Martin and Morgan Hoffman.
Click here to hear the post round interview with Ryan Moore, the tournament leader.
Now Sunday should play like a normal Sunday. Everyone in the field and at John Deere and the PGA Tour hopes so as well.