RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico– PGA Tour rookie Nico Echavarria of Colombia escaped 4 straight birdies early in his round Saturday and also completed with a 7-under 65 for a 2-shot lead in the Puerto Rico Open as he opts for his very first PGA Tour success.
Carson Young, that led the opening up 2 rounds at Grand Reserve, needed to birdie the last opening for a 71 and also was Echavarria’s closest pursuer.
Young started with a 4-shot lead prior to the 28-year-old Colombian composed ground rapidly with an eagle on the par-5 2nd opening and afterwards 4 straight birdies beginning at the 4th.
He headed out in 30 and also currently had the lead when they made the turn.
“It was a dream start,” Echavarria stated. “You never think you’re going to shoot 6 under on the front nine [in] the third round, so I knew it had to be a low one because [Young] had a big lead. I gave myself some really good chances on the front nine, putter was hot.”
Echavarria went to 17-under 199.
The champion makes an area in the Players Championship following week with its $25 million bag, in addition to areas in the PGA Championship and also a two-year exception on thePGA Tour It does not included an invite to the Masters since the Puerto Rico Open is held the very same week as the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Sam Stevens (65) and also Nate Lashley (67) were 4 shots behind.
“I played solid today, I just didn’t hit anything really close,” Young stated. “I still feel good about my game. I drove it better today than I did yesterday, which is a positive. It was just a grind today just because I wasn’t hitting really anything close, but I feel good about my game and I’m ready to see what I can do tomorrow.”
Young additionally is a tour rookie hopeful of a large chance Sunday.
A year earlier, Ryan Brehm won in his last beginning prior to he would certainly have been delegated to theKorn Ferry Tour Brehm went to Bay Hill today and also formerly played in 2 various other raised occasions with a $20 million bag.
