NAPA – Patton Kizzire overcame an inconsistent tee game and a missed putt on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead into the ultimate round of the Procore Championship at Silverado.
Kizzire shot a 5-under 67 — with six birdies and a bogey — to complete at 18-under 198. The 38-year-old former Auburn player is attempting to end an extended dry spell after winning his two PGA Tour titles in Mexico and Hawaii inside two months in late 2017 and early 2018.
“The greens were fantastic,” said Kizzire. “They roll really well. I can see the greens well and play all out. This is a golf course I really enjoy playing on.”
David Lipsky, playing in the identical group as Kizzire, finished second after a 70 within the opening match of the FedEx Cup Fall Series. The first-round leader had 4 birdies and two bogeys.
Patrick Fishburn, in his first yr on tour, tried to overtake the leaders and got inside two shots of Kizzire before ending his round with back-to-back bogeys. Fishburn shot 70 to tie for third place at 13 under par, together with Greyson Sigg and Canadian Presidents Cup players Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners, who all shot 66.
Kizzire struggled for much of the afternoon after missing seven fairways off the tee. He made up for it with strong approach shots and a reliable putter to remain atop the leaderboard until he missed a 5-foot par putt on the tenth hole and suffered a bogey.
Kizzire got back on course with a 21-foot birdie putt on hole 11, then hit a unbelievable shot out of a greenside bunker to save lots of par on hole 16. He made birdie on the par-3 17, then struggled to save lots of par on hole 18 after his approach shot hit right into a bunker.
This enabled Kizzire to interrupt the tournament record of 21 under par at Silverado, set last yr by Sahith Theegala.
Lipsky stayed close, but fell back into the sector after two bogeys in a row on the back nine.
“I really didn't play my best today,” Lipsky said. “Days like that happen over the course of a week. Swing just didn't feel as good as it has the last two days and I just battled through it. I just tried to play it safe.”
Theegala shot a 69 on Saturday, leaving him six strokes back and 12 under par.
Wilson Furr and Ben Silverman were also 12 under par. Furr shot 64, one of the best round of the day, and Silverman shot 65.
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