DeCorso retains SGC lead

By Bryan Fazio

May 04, 2008 02:33 am

— VALDOSTA — Bryan DeCorso continued his goal of shooting 60s or better in every round of the South Georgia Classic Presented by First State Bank Saturday, posting a third-day score of 68.
DeCorso’s three-day total of 11-under was still the best in the 68-player field, but his lead dwindled to one shot, as Greg Owen had a blistering day.
The Nationwide and PGA Tour veteran shot a third-round tournament record of 7-under, thanks to a bogey-free round that included seven birdies.
“I’m devastated,” Owen joked following his round. “I played, and I’m really happy with how my round went, considering I got off to a rocky start.”
Owen shot par on his first seven holes, before really heating up.
“I’ve been hitting it great all week, acttually all year,” Owen said. “Even on Thursday, when I shot 74, I hit the ball well. I just couldn’t get it in the hole. It’s difficult to make birdies out here when you’re putting from 40 feet.”
The birdies were certainly falling Saturday, especially on hole No. 15, where he hit a 6-iron to about one foot, and then knocked in the putt for birdie.
By that time, Owen was already closing in on DeCorso, but the overall leader didn’t know it.
“I’m actually a little shocked that I’m only one stroke up,” DeCorso said. “Someone obviously played really good. I’ve got my work cut out for me today. I just have to keep the same routine.”
This is the second tournament in a row where DeCorso has the lead going into the final day. At the Henrico County Open last week, DeCorso finished tied for fourth place, and has brought that momentum into this week’s $625,000 tournament.
Along with the winning momentum, DeCorso is also hoping to bring a lesson he picked up on day four of the Henrico County Open.
On the 10th hole of that tournament, DeCorso lost the lead due to a bogey, which came because of impatient play.
“It was a short putt where I just lost patience,” DeCorso said. “My pre-shot was fast and my shot was fast. I didn’t get down and negative, I just got fast.”
During today’s final round, DeCorso takes the experience and the advice of a friend with him.
“A friend told me to stop focusing on the result, it just adds pressure,” DeCorso said. “He said to focus on the process and then you get to watch the result. It kind of takes you away from it. You don’t get too emotionally involved.”
While DeCorso and Owen are at the top, there are plenty still close to the lead. Seven golfers are within four shots of DeCorso. David Mathis and Monday qualifier David Miller are three strokes behind the leader at 8-under. Four more golfers are tied for fifth at 7-under.
The scores were low Saturday, as 13 of the top 14 golfers shot rounds in the 60s. A total of 16 golfers broke 70, and 31 of the top 32 golfers on the leaderboard shot even-par or better.
The leaders will begin today’s round at 10:45 a.m. The first golfers of the day, Dustin Bray, Wade Ormsby and Kris Blanks, will tee off at 8:40 a.m.

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