Matt Every and Jeff Maggert on top of the leaderboard after the third round of Sony Open in Hawaii
Overnight leader Matt Every pulled in a humble round on Saturday, January 14, to hold on to his lead on the third day of the Sony Open in Hawaii. But for the moment, he is not alone at the top of the leaderboard.
Veteran Jeff Maggert, who is now closing into the 50 bracket and will be joining the Champions Tour shortly, pulled in a glorious bogey-free round of six-under, 64 to surge to the top for a share of the lead, before heading into the final on Sunday.
Maggert has been battering right shoulder injury and has undergone a surgery for the bone spur.
While he was on medical exemption to participate in this year’s events, Maggert deemed it reasonable to go through the qualifying rounds just to be on the safer side.
"It was afterwards, coming out of the grocery store," he said. "True story. Tripped on the ice and fell and broke my rib on the curb".
So far through the 54-hole stretch at the scenic Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii, Maggert has pulled in strong rounds of 69, 65 and 64 to stay in contention for the $5.5 million event, the second one on the PGA Tour calendar.
He carded yet another eagle on par-five, 9th on the third day and pulled in four birdies to edge past the rest of the contenders on the field.
Every on the other hand, relied mostly on his stunning 64 on the second day and has managed to extend his lead heading into the final round.
He pulled in four birdies and dropped two shots to close the day with an aggregate of 198, sharing the lead with Maggert.
"If I miss that -- 2 over after three -- and then the next thing you know, I could have made another bogey and then it's just kind of survival mode," Every said.
Three players are tied for the third place, Johnson Wagner, Charles Howell III and Brendon de Jonge, trailing the leaders by two shots.
Steve Stricker, winner of the season-opener Hyundai Tournament of Champions, is further four shots down the lead, sharing the eighth place with ten other players.
Tags: