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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Jimmy Walker hits from the bunker onto the green on the 17th hole during the third round of the 2015 Sony Open on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Waialae Country Club.
Jimmy Walker is in a familiar spot — at the top of the leaderboard at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
The defending champion, who’s fresh off a playoff loss on Monday at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions to Patrick Reed, shot an 8-under 62 Saturday to break out of a tightly bunched group of golfers playing in ideal conditions at the Waialae Country Club.
Local favorite Kyle Suppa had two bogeys over the final four holes and will miss the secondary cut. The Punahou School junior shot a 1-over 71 to leave him at 1 under for the tournament and tied for 76th. Those who finished 3 under and better made the fourth round.
As for Walker, who is still kicking himself for letting last week’s winners-only tournament slip through his fingers, he will take a two-shot lead into Sunday’s final round thanks to 22 birdies and 11 consecutive 1 putts through 54 holes over Matt Kuchar.
Walker’s three-round total of 16-under 194 left him two shots clear of Kuchar, who birdied the last to shoot a 2-under 68 to go to 14 under for the tournament.
Brian Harman (64) is another shot back at 13-under 197 and is tied with Troy Merritt (67) for third. Tim Clark (68) and Justin Thomas (70) round out the top five at 12 under.
