La Quinta, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Erik Compton, Bill Haas, Justin Thomas
and Michael Putnam all finished Saturday’s third round at 17-under-par 199 and
they will head into the final round of the Humana Challenge with a 1-shot
lead.
Compton, who has never won on the PGA Tour, carded a 5-under 67 in the second
round, while Haas, a five-time winner and the 2010 champion at this event,
shot a 3-under 69. Both Compton and Haas played on the Jack Nicklaus Private
Course at PGA West Saturday.
A rookie seeking his first career win on tour, Thomas finished with a 4-under
68 on the Arnold Palmer Private Course. First-round leader Putnam, who has
also never won on the PGA Tour, shot a 3-under 69 at La Quinta Country Club
Over the first three rounds, players alternated between playing the Arnold
Palmer and Jack Nicklaus Private Courses at PGA West along with La Quinta
Country Club. Sunday’s final round will be contested on the Palmer Course.
Second-round leader Matt Kuchar (71) held the lead throughout most of the day,
but a few errant shots down the stretch on the Palmer Course dropped him back
into a tie for fifth at 16-under 200.
Also playing on the Palmer Course, Ryan Palmer carded a 4-under 68 and he is
tied with Kuchar, Steve Wheatcroft (68) and Scott Pinckney (69) at minus-16.
Wheatcroft played the Nicklaus Course, while Pinckney was on the Palmer Course
Saturday.
Defending champion Patrick Reed, playing the Palmer Course, finished with a 5-
under 67 and he is tied for ninth with six others at 14-under 202.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
