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2019 Valspar Championship Third Round Recap and Highlights

It may have been moving day at the 2019 Valspar Championship but the name on top the leaderboard stayed the same. Defending 2018 winner Paul Casey will take his one stroke lead into Sunday looking to become the first champion to defend his title at Innisbrook. While the top name on the list didn’t change, fan favorite Dustin Johnson made some moves of his own to take sole possession of second place at the end of play Saturday.

Can Casey go back to back?

Since winning the 2018 Valspar Championship England’s Paul Casey has yet to find himself inside the winner’s circle over the past year. Just because he doesn’t own another victory doesn’t mean he hasn’t had success. Since his win at the Copperhead Course last year Casey has turned in 12 top-20 performances on the PGA Tour (and was part of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team).

Entering Innisbrook Casey was determined to shake off the missed cut from THE PLAYERS and take control once again. With a share of the lead following the second round of action the 2006 European Tour Player of the Year controlled the pace with a methodical 3-under round of 68.

Despite a bogey on the par-4 second, Casey turned in birdies on his first and sixth holes of the day. After taking the turn the defending champion would birdie three of four holes starting at the 559-yard par-5 11th. A closing bogey may have put a damper on his 54th hole of the tournament but Casey will certainly out swinging come Sunday afternoon.

Johnson and Donald refuse to go quietly

As was the case on Friday, Dustin Johnson and Luke Donald continued to contend just off the lead at the Valspar Championship. The comeback story of Donald has captured the attention of golf fans around the world. The 2011 PGA Player of the Year started his third round by grabbing an early share of the lead with a must see birdie from the greenside bunker at the par-5 1st hole.

From there Donald found a bogey prior to the turn before running on the heels of 11 straight pars. While a long par streak may not be the most appealing thing on Tour, at the Copperhead course that can be quite the achievement. Donald closed with a birdie at 18 to move into a tie for fourth just three strokes off the lead come Sunday.

The 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson has made a career on getting himself out of sticky situations. The reigning world number one navigates around the course with the patience and poise that has led him to 20 career victories. Johnson’s sole bogey of the day came sandwiched between three birdies on his front nine and a blemish free closing nine.

Sitting two strokes off the lead heading into his final hole of the day, the South Carolina native knew he needed to go low at 18 in order to put the pressure on Paul Casey. Johnson’s tee shot at the namesake “Copperhead” hole found the sand. Using his trademark power Johnson was able to get up and down for birdie to solidify his spot in the final pairing Sunday next to Casey.

Long Distance Putts, Chip-Ins and even a Hole in One

While he may have moved in the wrong direction Saturday, Austin Cook still turned in his fair share of highlights including a chip-in for his fourth birdie of the day at the par-4 12th.

He may sit nine shots off the lead at even par but the crowd has been firmly behind Tennessee’s Brandt Snedeker this week at the Valspar Championship. Saturday he gave the fans something to cheer about with a long chip-in birdie at the par-4 16th.

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen currently sits tied for sixth thanks in part to a chip-in birdie from just off the green at the par-3 13th hole.

After turning in the top highlight Thursday with the first ever albatross in tournament history, Russell Knox nearly followed it up Saturday with a near ace at 13.

While Knox couldn’t convert the one on the scorecard, 33-year old Jason Kokrak found the perfect line at the par-3 15th as he rolled in his tee shot for a hole in one that brought him to a momentary share of the lead late Saturday.

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