Na hopes patience pays off with Shriners Open win
Kevin Na is chasing his second career PGA Tour win after shooting a 3-under-par 68 on Saturday, leaving him two strokes behind tournament leader Brett Stegmaier entering today’s final round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Na’s 11-under 202 through three rounds left the Summerlin resident tied for third with Jimmy Walker and former UNLV standout Chad Campbell.
“I’m playing well,” Na said at TPC Summerlin, his home course. “The putter is coming around, so I think if I drive it well tomorrow, I’ll have another chance.”
His round started with a par on the 10th hole before birdies on the 11th and 12th, and another birdie on 17 as part of a bogey-free front nine. Birdies on No. 4 and No. 9 were negated by bogeys on No. 1 and No. 7 for a par total on the back nine.
After recording a total of 61 putts in the first two rounds, Na had only 23 putts Saturday, but hit only four of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens in regulation.
Firm greens made for truer putting surfaces Saturday, Na said.
“I think they cut the water off, and they’ve done a good job,” he said. “The greens are drying out.”
Na’s performance came a week after he finished second at the Frys.com Open in Napa, Calif. Tied through 73 holes, he fell short of his first PGA Tour win in four years, losing to Emiliano Grillo on the second playoff hole.
Na hopes his fate will be different today, when he tries to win for the second time on his home course. He shot 23-under 261 to win the Shriners Open in 2011.
But with TPC Summerlin playing “as difficult as (he’s) ever seen it,” Na said patience is key. He said he thinks he will need to shoot 6 or 7 under for a chance to win.
“At the beginning of the week I told myself just stay patient,” he said. “The putter’s fine. I just got to hit the ball a little better than I did today.”
Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4593. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj.
