Schauffele eyes Maui PGA title repeat

Xander Schauffele is one shot ahead of Justin Thomas with a round to play in the US PGA Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

By Australian Associated Press
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Xander Schauffele has kept himself on track to become the first player since Australia's Geoff Ogilvy to win the US PGA Tour's Tournament of Champions back to back.

Defending champion and overnight leader Schauffele's two-under-par 71 gave him a one-shot lead at from Justin Thomas with one round to play at Kapalua in Hawaii.

Thomas, the 2017 champion, strengthened his claims with a 69 on Saturday and ensured he joins Schauffele in the final group as he goes for a third win in his last seven starts on the PGA Tour.

US Open champion Gary Woodland (69) a further two shots back in third place, while seven players are tied fourth at seven under, including Kevin Kisner, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed and a pair of newcomers who won last year, Matthew Wolff and Colin Morikawa.

Former US Open champion Ogilvy was the last player to successfully defend the title when he triumphed in 2010

Schauffele is at 11-under 212, the highest 54-hole score to lead at Kapalua since Vijay Singh was at 11 under in 2007.

He won last year by closing with a 62 to make up a five-shot deficit against Woodland.

Thomas is one who believes another 62 is out there if everything falls his way, even though the renovations to the Plantation Course are a big reason why scoring has been higher than usual.

The weather hasn't helped. Saturday brought another dose of gusts in the 25 mph range, and occasional rain that showed up out of nowhere.

Thomas ran off five birdies on the front nine to take the lead until his first three-putt bogey of the week on the 12th hole. However, he misjudged the wind on another 6-foot par putt at the 17th and failed to birdie the par-5 18th for a 38 on the back nine.


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