Branshaw moves three ahead of Veazey at the Cox Classic

text size

OMAHA, Neb. -- In a city where five Fortune 500 companies are located, David Branshaw had some good fortune of his own on Saturday and is in great position to win for the first time since the 2005 Nationwide Tour Championship.

With three straight 64s, David Branshaw tied the tournament's 54-hole scoring record. (Badz/PGA TOUR)

Inside the Numbers

Branshaw thru 54 Holes

Category Total Rank Eagles 2 T2 Birdies 20 2 Pars 29 T50 Bogeys 3 T59 Double Bogeys 0 N/A Other 0 N/A Driving Accuracy 69.0% T16 Driving Distance 319.3 yds. T10 Greens in Regulation 87.0% T1 Putts per Round 27.7 T6 Putts per GIR 1.596 3 Sand Saves 0.0% T44

Branshaw leads by three strokes after three consecutive rounds of 64, and a tournament record equaling 54-hole total of 21-under 192 in the Cox Classic presented by Chevrolet.

In second position, at 18 under, is 43-year-old Vance Veazey (65). Overnight leader Ryan Hietala (70) is alone in third at 17 under.

Tied for fourth at 14 under are two-time Nationwide Tour event winner Colt Knost (67) and South Africa's Garth Mulroy (70). Last week's winner, Bill Lunde (68), is sixth.

For Branshaw, a Tampa, Fla., resident, it was a case of "groundhog day" when he stubbed a putt from just off the green on the final hole, which stayed on the fringe. He holed the next shot from 30 feet. His finish at the ninth hole (his final hole) Friday was eerily similar, when he stubbed a chip and holed the birdie putt from just off the green.

"The lie wasn't good enough to chip," said Branshaw, who has had some issues with his chipping the last two years. "I didn't like the lie when I saw it. I couldn't believe how slow the first putt was. The second putt, I didn't think that thing was going to stop. It kept rolling then went in the hole."

Earlier in the round, Branshaw eagled No. 10 after a 7-iron to 12 feet and started thinking about the 23-under 190 he shot at the Gila River Classic in 2002.

"I thought to myself let's try to get it to 24 under," he said.

After three more birdies, Branshaw came to the last and faced a 155 yard 8-iron into the wind.

"Somewhere mid-swing the wind just dropped and that thing flew at least 10 yards further," said Branshaw, who finished tied for third at the recent $1 million Nationwide Tour Players Cup. "Maybe it was adrenaline, or not wanting to be short of that pin. It wasn't that bad of a play."

Veazey's putting kept him in the game and the 45-footer he made on the 11th hole was a bonus.

"I could take 20 or 30 balls out there and not make that putt again," said Veazey of the twisting, downhill 45-footer. "They had some pins today where you had a lot of breaking putts. I don't know how I shot 65. I don't feel like I shot 65. I hit a few squirrely shots just like I have all week but the score is out there if you keep grinding it out."

Overnight leader Hietala bogeyed Nos. 2 and 3 but bounced back with three straight birdies on holes 4, 5 and 6. After a blocked tee shot to the right at the 14th hole, he was forced to take a penalty for an unplayable lie and the resulting double bogey dropped him to 16 under. A birdie-par finish left the Boise, Idaho, resident four strokes adrift.

Mulroy was 4 under through eight holes before hitting his tee-shot on the par-4 ninth hole to 20 feet. The crowd had been waiting all day for an eagle and Mulroy, in the penultimate pairing, gave them what they wanted. It also gave Mulroy a 6-under 29 on the front nine. It was the only eagle at the ninth hole Saturday.

"I heard something about $1 beers for 45 minutes for every eagle," said Mulroy. "I hope I gave them something to enjoy."

A double bogey at the 11th hole, when he missed the green to the left, then chipped twice, dropped the South African to 17 under. Three further bogeys in the last four holes gave him a closing nine of 41.

Knost (67) quietly worked his way up the leader board, but a three-putt bogey on the final hole left a bad taste.

"I figured I needed to shoot 6 or 7 under to have a good chance going in to tomorrow," said Knost. "I have nothing to lose tomorrow. I just need one win and I'm wrapped up for everything, but I'm probably going to have to shoot 9 under to win."

Chris Thompson (64), a Lawrence, Kan., resident, advanced from a tie for 55th to a tie for 11th with a bogey-free round and shared the low round of the day with Branshaw.

Branshaw is looking forward to his final round pairing with Veazey.

"Vance is a good guy to play with, but I'm at ease with most everybody I play with," he said. "No matter what, there's no lead large enough."

Third-Round News & Notes: Brian Smock (67) played alone in the first group in 3 hours 17 minutes. ... Casey Wittenberg (66) made five birdies in a row on hole Nos. 4-8 for a front-nine 29 (-6). ... Madalitso Muthiya (67) scored eagles on the par-5 sixth and 10th holes. ... Current money leader Jarrod Lyle (69) is tied for 36th. The third-round scoring average was 69.810. ... The most difficult hole was No. 2 while the easiest hole was No. 10.