Lower birdies three of last four holes to enter Sunday with two-stroke lead

Published 12:44 am Sunday, March 24, 2019

BROUSSARD — Behind the strength of a bogey-free 7-under 64 on Saturday, Justin Lower moved to the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by MISTRAS. With three birdies in his last four holes to reach 18-under 195, Lower will carry a two-stroke advantage into Sunday at Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club.

“This has been the calmest I’ve ever been in all of the tournament rounds I’ve played,” said Lower. “I know what stands in front of me tomorrow. It’s going to be one of the toughest rounds I’ve ever played. I’ve been in the last group on a Sunday before, but I was chasing. I didn’t have the lead. I know what’s in front of me, but the way I’m playing I feel pretty good about it.”

Lower is coming off easily his best season on the Web.com Tour in 2018, scattering seven top-25 finishes across 25 starts. Heartbreak occurred on his last hole of the year at the Web.com Tour Championship as he missed a seven-foot putt for birdie at the 18th hole. The putt would have moved him inside the top-25 finishers on the Finals money list and earned him his PGA TOUR card. Instead, the par left him 26th on the money list.

The 29-year-old is seeking his best finish on the Web.com Tour and looking to continue his success at Le Triomphe. His previous best was a solo-third finish at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open last year.

“I’m human, so of course I have doubts [about tomorrow],” said Lower. “I’m also a Cleveland sports fan, so I have a ton of doubts. It’s just human nature, especially with this game…But I’ve worked hard on my routine and making it second nature. Everything is working out right now and hopefully it continues for one more day.”

Earlier in the year, Lower might have foreshadowed his success this week while talking to a local legend.

“I love the golf course; it fits my eye really well,” said Lower. “Craig Perks, who is pretty big in this area, asked me in Abaco which tournament I was most looking forward to and it was this one.”

Perks, who still lives on the golf course at Le Triomphe, attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before a career on the PGA TOUR – including capturing the 2002 PLAYERS Championship. He currently works as a commentator on Golf Channel.

Lower is near the top in several statistical categories. The Malone University alum is T3 in putts per round (27.0), T8 in greens in regulation (44/54) and T17 in fairways hit (24/39). He also leads the field in par-4 scoring average at 3.67.

Vince Covello and Ben Kohles sit tied for second at 16-under 195. Covello ranks first in greens in regulation over the week (49/54, 90.7%), while Kohles ranks second (48/54, 88.9%). Kohles eagled the first before tacking on five more birdies (against two bogeys) for a third-round 5-under 66. Covello made the turn at 4-under 32 and coasted to a 4-under 67 finish.

Lower, Covello and Xinjun Zhang (solo-fourth) are each seeking their first win on the Web.com Tour. Kohles won his first two starts on the Web.com Tour in 2012, but the University of Virginia product has gone 116 starts since without claiming a title. He is the only player in the Web.com Tour’s 30-year history to win his first two starts.