Making his tournament debut and with preferred lies in effect, PGA TOUR rookie and World No. 358 Tom Lovelady enjoyed a 7-under-par 33-32=65 in the third round of the Barbasol Championship to post 18-under 198, up five spots on the round and good for a share of the 54-hole lead with three others, including Troy Merritt, who he’ll be paired with in the penultimate twosome in Round 4.
This is the Alabama alum’s first lead/co-lead after any round in his 25th event and is eyeing his first TOUR title. His career best (and lone top 10) is T5 at the opposite-field Corales 12 starts ago. The 24-year-old, who celebrates his birthday in two days (July 23rd), hit 10 (of 14) fairways and 13 greens in regulation, gaining 1.869 strokes around and 2.916 tee-to-green. He squared a lone bogey-5 at hole 9 (tee ball in the water), camouflaged by six birdies, including four straight at 14-17, adding eagle-3 at 6 from 13'7". Lovelady recorded 1.615 putts per GIR and 1.180 SG: Putting with 26 total putts.