Max Homa is Nine Strokes Back Entering Final Round of Genesis Invitational
Three former Cal golfers made no headway Saturday at the $20 million Genesis Invitational and all are out of contention heading into the final round at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades.
Max Homa, the world’s seventh-ranked player, survived an early stretch of three straight bogeys to shoot a 1-under 70. The 33-year-old, who began the day at minus-4 and tied for 11th, dipped to a tie for 20th place at minus-5.
Homa is nine strokes back of third-round leader Patrick Cantlay, who is at 14 under par after posting a third-round 70. Cantlay’s five-stroke margin after Friday shrank to two strokes over Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris, who each carded 65s to take scores of minus-12 into Sunday's final round.
It was a topsy-turvy day for Homa, who sank a 39-foot eagle putt on the firs hole and then made bogeys on the next three holes. His game calmed after that, with birdies on Nos. 8, 10 and 16 before carding a bogey on No 18 .
Collin Morikawa began the day tied for 35th at minus-1 and shot a 1-under 70 but he slipped to a tie for 39th place at minus-2.
The world’s 14th-ranked player, Morikawa had a wild front nine, mixing three birdies, three pars and three bogeys. The 27-year-old settled down thereafter, making a birdie the 17th in a bogey-free back nine. He is 12 strokes back of Cantlay.
Byeong Hun An, 33, took the course Saturday at minus-3 and tied for 20th. He had four birdies and four bogeys through 16 holes before posting a birdie on 17 to finish the day at minus-1. He sits at 4 under and tied for 27th place, 10 strokes off the lead.
Cover photo of Max Homa by Rob Schumacher, USA Today
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