Saturday’s golf: Lower, seeking first win, eagles 18th to share lead in Mexico

Posted by Admin November 10, 2024 Golf

Associated Press
| Associated Press

Los Cabos, Mexico – Justin Lower made an 11-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th for a share of the lead Saturday in the World Wide Technology Championship with Nico Echavarria and Carson Young.

Lower shot a 9-under 63 in diminished wind conditions to match his best round on the PGA Tour and join Echavarria (68) and Young (67) at 16-under 200 at Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante.

PGA TOUR SCOREBOARD

“There’s 18 holes tomorrow on a very scorable golf course,” Lower said. “I think the wind’s going to stay down again, so I have to go out and basically shoot probably somewhere between 5- and 9- under again. It’s just the way the scores are out here. If the wind’s down, scores are going to be low.”

The 35-year-old American birdied the par-4 17th in the bogey-free round. He’s trying to win for the first time on the tour.

“I just want to see how good I can do and prove to myself that I can actually do something in this game,” Lower said.

Echavarria, from Colombia, is coming off his second PGA Tour victory two weeks ago in Japan in the Zozo Championship. He parred the final six holes Saturday.

Young made a big move Friday with a 61. He’s winless on the tour.

PGA Tour Champions

Bernhard Langer shot his age once again to put himself in position to extend his PGA Tour Champions winning streak to 18 years.

The 67-year-old German star with a Champions-record 46 career victories had a 4-under 67 on Saturday at Phoenix Country Club to take a one-stroke lead in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. He has shot his age or better 22 times on the tour.

He has fought back after tearing his left Achilles playing pickelball in February.

“It would mean a great deal because of what I’ve been through this year,” Langer said. “And also, I didn’t win this year. It’s the first time in my Champions Tour career that I didn’t win in a season. So yeah, there will be a little extra effort tomorrow.”

Defending champion Steven Alker, second behind Ernie Els in the season standings, was second after a 63 – poised to pass Els for the $1 million bonus. Els was tied for 14th after a 71.

Richard Green was third at 11 under after a 63. Alex Cejka had a 68 to get to 10 under, and Jerry Kelly was 9 under after a 66.