Welch Fires Third Round 68, Climbs Leaderboard at PGA Tour Event
After making the cut right on the number on Friday evening, Patrick Welch climbed the leaderboard during round three of the PGA Tour’s Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Welch followed up a four-under 67 on Friday with a three-under 68 on Saturday afternoon and currently sits inside the top 50 in the standings.
The number will likely move a bit throughout the afternoon depending on what other players do, but all in all, not bad for the only amateur in the field.
The irony of it all is that statistically, this was Welch’s worst round of the week.
He averaged 312 yards off the tee, but hit just 42% of the fairways. That number was in the 70s over the first two rounds.
The Oklahoma star hit 61% of greens in regulation in round three, but the key is that he gained nearly a full stroke putting on the field.
If you remember in the first round, he lost two strokes to the field on the greens, but still managed to grind out an even par round.
3rd Round Breakdown
Welch opened the day with a par on the first hole, but birdied the second hole to get to one-under on the day.
The third hole caused some trouble after the Classical grad put his tee shot in the rough, then his second shot in the native area.
He ended up getting on in three and two-putting from 22 feet for a bogey to go back to even par.
Welch settled down with three straight pars, and then birdied the seventh hole.
From 78 yards out, Welch put his approach to three feet and knocked in the putt.
On the par-3 eighth hole, Welch put his tee shot in the right rough and chipped up to 23 feet. He would two putt from there for a bogey to go back to even.
The par-5 ninth hole is the beginning of a scoring stretch of holes and Welch took advantage.
From the fairway, Welch put his approach shot to seven inches and tapped in for a birdie to turn at one-under.
On the backside, Welch saved par on the first three holes, then birdied the par-5 13th hole after getting to the fringe in two.
He saved par on the 14th hole, and then made a huge par save on 15.
The 15th hole is a short par-4 and Welch tried going for it.
He missed the green and landed in the bunker.
On his second shot, he left the ball in the bunker and then chipped out to seven feet for par.
Welch nailed the par putt to keep momentum alive.
Welch capped off his round with a birdie on the par-5 16th hole, though he just missed an eagle putt as he was on the green in two.
Two pars to end the day gave Welch a 68.