Cromwell, Conn, June 26: Sahith Theegala, an Indian-American put himself into contention at the Travelers Championship as he moved into third place at the end of the third after a round of 64. He trails leader Xander Schauffele (67) by three shots and Patrick Cantlay (63) was second while Theegala, a rookie, was third.
Schauffele shot a 3-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over good friend and playing partner Patrick Cantlay into the final round of the Travelers Championship.
Schauffele had a 17-under 193 total at TPC River Highlands and Cantlay was 16-under with Theegala third at 14 under after a round of 64. Kevin Kisner had a 66 to get to 13 under.
Schauffele began the day at 14 under with a five-stroke lead. The Olympic champion birdied the second hole for the third time this week and had another at No. 6, part of a career-best run of 48 holes without a bogey.
But he put his tee shot at Par-5 13th in the water and briefly fell into a tie for the lead after a bogey. He birdied 16, then hit the pin on his approach at 17 and sank another.
Cantlay’s bogey-free round was the best of the day.
Schauffele and Cantlay have been close friends since being paired together at the 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia and they combined to win the Zurich Classic this season.
Schauffele is looking for his sixth individual title and first since the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions. He also is shooting for his sixth straight top-20 finish. He and Cantlay finished tied for 14th last week in the U.S. Open.
Theegala had an eagle on 13 to go with four birdies. The 24-year-old Californian hit his second shot on the par-4 17th over the course’s signature lake to about a foot from the pin, briefly tying Schauffele for the lead. But he bogeyed the final hole.
Harris English, who is trying to become just the second player to successfully defend his title here after Phil Mickelson won in 2002, shot a 69 and was in a group at 10-under.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler was also in that group after shooting a 65. He began the weekend nine strokes behind Schauffele.
First-round co-leader Rory McIlroy (72) got in trouble early and is now 11 strokes off the pace.
