Golf

Lowry and Poulter in the top 10 of Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Dominant Schauffele and Cantlay lead by five strokes heading into final round

Shane Lowry of Ireland putts on the first green during the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Photograph: Sarah Stier/Getty
Shane Lowry of Ireland putts on the first green during the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Photograph: Sarah Stier/Getty
David Gorman
Sun Apr 24 2022 - 12:04

Shane Lowry and Ian Poulter are in the top 10 of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the PGA Tour after a round 64 on Saturday.

After Lowry took charge with seven of the nine birdies in the opening round, there was an even spread of four birdies each for the two in the fourball format, a highlight being Poulter nearly holing a wedge shot for eagle at the 16th hole. Lowry and Poulter are 19-under-par for the tournament.

The team are well adrift, however, 10 shots behind leaders Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who added a 60 to their rounds of 59 and 60, to post 29-under-par for the tournament after three rounds.

They lead by five strokes from South African pairing Garrick Higgo and Branden Grace.

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A shot further back are the pairings of Sam Burns and Billy Horschel, Jason Schrivener and Jason Day, and Aaron Rai and David Lipsky.

“Our plan is to basically have as many birdie looks as possible,” Schauffele said. “If you’re not really in the hole, hit it up there close to free up your partner and let your partner get a good roll at it. (Cantlay) did a really good job of that on the back nine, and it bore some good fruit.

“It’s the third quarter. We finished a really good three quarters here and we have one more to go,” Schauffele added.

Cantlay and Schauffele have proven a formidable pairing together, having won both matches at the 2021 Ryder Cup when paired together.

Collated third round scores & totals in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, TPC Louisiana (USA unless stated, Par 72):

187 Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele

192 Garrick Higgo (Rsa) & Branden Grace (Rsa)

193 Aaron Rai (Eng) & David Lipsky, Jason Day (Aus) & Jason Scrivener (Aus), Sam Burns & Billy Horschel

194 Cameron Tringale & Wyndham Clark

196 Ryan Brehm & Mark Hubbard, Justin Lower & Dylan Wu

197 Shane Lowry (Irl) & Ian Poulter (Eng), Matthew NeSmith & Taylor Moore, Doc Redman & Sam Ryder, Brian Stuard & Russell Knox (Sco), Bubba Watson & Harold Varner III

198 Keegan Bradley & Brendan Steele, Talor Gooch & Max Homa, Sungjae Im (Kor) & Byeong Hun An (Kor), Hank Lebioda & Chase Seiffert, Patrick Rodgers & Brandon Wu

199 Tyler Duncan & Adam Schenk, Matt Wallace (Eng) & Sam Horsfield (Eng)