On another brutally windy day in Jeju Island, South Korea, Justin Thomas posted a 2-under 70 and took a share of the lead heading into Sunday’s final round at The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges.
After a double bogey on No. 8 and a bogey on the 11th, the reigning FedExCup Champion was 1-over through 10 holes. But the 24-year superstar recovered nicely, playing bogey-free over his final 8 holes with three birdies, including a tap-in 4 on par-5 18th to reach the clubhouse at 9-under 207.
“I was just trying to stay patient and calm during the round. It’s just kind of getting at the end of a long stretch and getting a little tired, a little fatigue,” said Thomas, who is ranked No. 4 in the world. “Just trying to keep my head on as straight as I possibly can and stay patient out there, trying to make a lot of pars because it is extremely difficult out there. I played really well today, shooting 2-under.”
Thomas is tied with American journeyman Scott Brown, who had back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11 but recovered with a clutch birdie on 15 and another on 18 to close his round at 1-under 71.
Brown, 34, is looking forward to playing in the final group on Sunday, despite forecasts calling for the strongest winds of the week.
“From what they tell me about the weather, it’s going to be brutal. I think it’s going to be a dogfight,” said Brown, who is seeking second career win No 2 (2013 Puerto Rico Open), “I think it’s going to be ‘do what you can and you see what happens’.”
India’s Anirban Lahiri moved into a share of third with Aussie Marc Leishman (71) at 7-under 209 after posting a 69 which included four birdies and one bogey.
Whee Kim carded an even-par 72 and maintained his position as the highest-placed South Korean in the field at 6 under. Kim is tied for fifth with Australia’s Cameron Smith (73) and Lucas Glover (74).
Four shots back, at 5 under, is second-round leader Luke List, who dropped to T8 after struggling to a 4-over 76 on Saturday. South Korea’s Byeong Hun An, whose 5-under 67 was the day’s low round, is tied with List.
TOP 10: CJ CUP
T1 Justin Thomas -9
T1 Scott Brown -9
T3 Anirban Lahiri -7
T3 Marc Leishman -7
T5 Lucas Glover -6
T5 Cameron Smith -6
T5 Whee Kim -6
T8 Byeong Hun An -5
T8 Luke List -5
T10 Jamie Lovemark -4
T10 Brian Harman -4
T10 Chez Reavie -4
T10 Nick Taylor -4
T10 Paul Casey- 4
T10 Kyle Stanley -4
TOP KOREANS
T5 Whee Kim -6
T8 Byeong Hun An -5
T34 K.T. Kim +2
T34 Jinho Choi +2
T34 Seung-Yul Noh +2
T39 Si Woo Kim +3
T42 Young-han Song +4
T46 Jung-gon Hwang +5
T52 Kyoung-Hoon Lee +6
T52 Sung Kang +6
T56 Sangmoon Bae +7
T61 Hyungjoon Lee +8
T61 Seunghyuk Kim +8
T65 K.J. Choi +9
T67 Jeunghun Wang +11
71 Junghwan Lee +12
77 a-Gyu Min Lee +28
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: ROUND 3
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“It’s just that I’ve never played in a place where it bounces around and switches as much as it does here. I think because of all the trees, how often you are down going through the trees around the greens, it bounces off of them a lot. It really switches quite often. It’s really difficult to chip and putt because it’s true the fact that your putts can totally change the break with the wind changing or your chips can get up in the air and catch a gust and go one way or the other. It really is a huge difference. It is definitely one of the most difficult conditions I’ve played in.”
–Justin Thomas, on the wind at Jeju Island.
Credit: Getty Images, PGA Tour Media
