AVONDALE, La. — Beau Hossler and Wyndham Clark have achieved all sorts of accolades as golfers from qualifying for the U.S. Open as a teenager for Hossler and being part of a NCAA national championship team for Clark. Both have been successful at maintaining their PGA Tour privileges, but a win has been elusive so far for both of them.
That could change tomorrow in one fell swoop as they have teamed up to shoot 26-under 190 and claim a one-stroke lead over the team of Sungjae Im and Keith Mitchell heading into the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Could having a partner be the difference in finding their way to the winner’s circle?
“Sometimes when you’re alone, it feels like you’re out on an island. When the momentum gets going bad, when you’re on your own, sometimes it’s tough to turn that,” Clark said. “With a teammate, you you can kind of feed off each other and really not allow that momentum to get going in the wrong direction. So I hope tomorrow we’re light and loose like we’ve been all three days.”
On a picture-perfect Saturday in the Bayou, Hossler and Clark each chipped in five birdies in the four-ball, or best-ball, format and posted 10-under 62 at TPC Louisiana, which tied for the low round of the day. Hossler made a few birdies from inside 10 feet and Clark connected from 21 feet at the third and 26 feet at No. 12.
Zurich Classic: Sunday tee times
“That’s a tough hole, and we kind of snagged one,” Clark said. “That was a huge momentum for the back nine.”
On Sunday, the format switches back to foursomes, or alternate shot, which defending champions Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele were able to exploit to the tune of shooting a remarkable 9-under 63. However, they are only a combined 11-under for two rounds of best-ball, settling for 6-under 66 in the third round. Cantlay made just one birdie on the day. They will start the day at 20-under and T-10, and likely will need another special round of 63 or less – and some help – to have a chance to defend.
The final round presents a great opportunity for Clark and Hossler — not to mention several other teams seeking a maiden victory — to break thorough for the first time.
“I think the more opportunities you get, the more comfortable you get, and hopefully we can lean on that tomorrow,” Hossler said.
“If the momentum goes in our direction, I hope we just keep riding it,” Clark added.
Here are four more things to know from the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
