World No. 160 Bud Cauley rode five back-nine birdies to a 5-under-par 36-31=67 in the final round of the Houston Open to conclude on 10-under 278, up six places to T11 with play still in progress. UPDATE: With the tournament completed, Cauley finished T9.
This was the Alabama product’s fifth appearance, fourth cash, fourth top 25 and potentially a second top 10 (T8/2012). He improves to 3-for-4 on the season with two top 25s, joining a T14 at The Greenbrier three starts ago. After opening with 72-69-70, the Floridian began T17 on 5-under, three short of the overnight top 10, and mustered six (of 14) fairways and hit 13 greens in regulation. He lost 0.674 strokes off-the-tee but gained 1.715 approaching and 1.413 around-the-green, outpacing two bogeys with seven birdies, highlighted by four straight at 12-15. The 29-year-old posted 1.538 putts per GIR and 1.195 SG: Putting, wrapping the week with 19 birdies against seven bogeys and one double.