The China Mail - Rookie Cone seizes PGA Barbasol lead

The 30-year-old American made nine birdies in a bogey-free round to stand on 17-under par 199 after 54 holes at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

He was one stroke in front of 2009 US Open champion Lucas Glover and Sweden's Vincent Norrman.

World number 450 Cone, whose best PGA finish was a share of 23rd at the Byron Nelson in May, shot his low PGA round by two strokes, with birdies on three of the first four holes and three of the last five.

"I hit it really well, hit it pretty close early on and then made a couple of 10- to 15-footers on two, three and four," said Cone, who sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-three second, another from just inside 10 feet at the third and one from just outside 14 feet at the fourth.

He birdied from just outside five feet at the sixth and just beyond six feet at the par-5 eighth.

After missing the green at the par-3 ninth, Cone salvaged par by sinking a 14-foot putt, boosting momentum for the back nine.

Cone reached the green in two at the par-5 11th for a tap-in birdie, then added birdie putts of four feet at the par-3 14th and drove the green in two at the par-5 15th to set up a tap-in birdie.

He closed with seven-foot putts to save par at 17 and birdie the 18th to reach the clubhouse with a two-stroke edge.

"Just played smart -- fairways, greens, not get too aggressive," Cone said.

"I just hoped the putter came alive and today it did, hopefully it continues tomorrow," he added, but said he would be careful not to get ahead of himself in search of a first title that would also secure a spot in the British Open, the final major of the year.

Glover, chasing his first title since 2021, started the day with a two-shot lead and kept himself in the hunt with a three-under par 69 that featured four birdies and a bogey.

Norrman nabbed an eagle and six birdies with three bogeys in a five-under 67 that put him in position to challenge Sunday for a first PGA Tour title.

Golfers teed off in threesomes with an early start in a bid to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, but still waited out a 45-minute storm delay.

France's Adrien Saddier was just two strokes off the pace after a 67 for 201 while England's Nathan Kimsey and South African Jayden Schaper shared fifth on 202.

C.Fong--ThChM