Out of the penultimate threesome, World No. 171 Kramer Hickok navigated an even-par 34-36=70 in R3 of the HPE Houston Open to post 6-under 204, up two spots into a five-way T2, one shy of leader and playing competitor Scottie Scheffler (69).
The Texas alum played with fellow Longhorn Scheffler and the duo were the only players from the final three groups to manage a par-or-better lap. On seven (of 13) fairways and 11 greens in regulation, he traded two birdies with two bogeys (1, 3-putt), losing strokes off-the-tee (-0.220) and on-the-green (-0.819), but gaining 0.894 on approach and 1.249 around. The Dallas resident ranks 54th SG: Off-the-Tee with a cumulative -0.824, but 3rd in SG: Approach (4.731) and 3rd SG: Around (3.776). He’ll play out of the penultimate group again on Sunday, this time with Martin Trainer and Kevin Tway, in search of his first TOUR victory in 78 events, and looks to avenge a career-best P2 at last season’s Travelers as a 54-hole co-leader, where he succumbed in extra time to Harris English after eight holes.