Out of the final threesome, sponsor invite and overnight quad-leader Beau Hossler stalled out to an even-par 34-38=72 in R4 of the Valero Texas Open, dropping three places to a season-best T4 on 10-under 278.
The 27-year-old and University of Texas product, who drops to 0-for-4 as a 54-hole leader/co-leader, was chasing his first PGA TOUR win in 130 events, and first on any tour, but comes up three swings shy of quad-leader and first-time TOUR winner J.J. Spaun, who carded a 69 one group ahead. He went out in 2-under (3 birdies, 1 bogey), now leading by one, but bogeyed 10 and then doubled the par-5 14th, skulling his second from a fairway bunker 67 yards away 114 yards into the unknown. For the week, the World No. 236 handed in rounds of 73-66, day-tying-low 67 and 72, totaled 22 birdies against eight bogeys and two doubles, and ranked 4th SG: Putting (6.894) and 47th SG: Tee-to-Green (1.849), including a dismal 66th (of 72) in SG: Approach (-1.707), -3.318 of the latter on a wayward Sunday. Playing this season on conditional status, he did salvage a first top 10 in the tourney in five visits and second top 10 of the season in 11 events, joining a solo 3rd six starts ago at the AT&T Pebble Beach, where he was a 54-hole co-leader as well.