Read the full story on SportsLook - ZOZO Championship: Nico Echavarria Takes a 2-Stroke Lead Over Justin Thomas After the 3rd Round
INZAI, Chiba Prefecture ― Overnight leader Nico Echavarria eagled the final hole on Saturday, October 26 to take a two-stroke lead over two-time major champion Justin Thomas after the third round of the ZOZO Championship.
A day after Thomas eagled the par-5 final hole it was Echavarria's turn on Saturday and he did it with a spectacular approach shot from the middle of the fairway that landed three feet from the hole.
The Colombian calmly made the short eagle putt to finish with a 5-under-par 65 at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club that left him with a three-round total of 17-under 193.
"It was very special," Echavarria said of his eagle. "It was very hard to see out there at the end."
He then said, "It was dark, it was gloomy, so I couldn't see how close it was."
Added Echavarria "I heard the roar, but when I got there it was almost a tap-in, it was very good."
In addition to the eagle, Echavarria had five birdies and two bogeys.
Staying in Contention at the ZOZO Championship
Thomas' tee shot on 18 hit a tree and found the fairway rough but he recovered with a solid second shot that landed in front of the green.
He reached the green and then two-putted to save par and finished with a bogey-free 65 to remain two strokes back.
"I obviously would have loved a couple more [birdies] there coming in, but I played really, really solid," said Thomas.
He added, "I just kind of feel like I did what I needed to do and got it around the course well."
Thomas birdied the first two holes of the third round and then the first two after the turn.
He briefly moved into sole possession of the lead when he sank a four-foot birdie putt on the par-5 14th.
On the 15th his approach found the bunker and he was left with a long putt, which he made in two for par.
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Author: Jim Armstrong
The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.
