Branden Thornberry
(Ole Miss Athletics Photo)
SEA ISLAND, GA (November 19, 2017) -
Braden Thornberry struggled on the final day of the PGA Tour's RSM Classic to finish 3-under.
After an 8-under 64 propelled the Ole Miss junior into the weekend Thornberry closed his tournament with a disappointing 4-over 74. After having success with the putter through the first three rounds Thornberry couldn't get any going on Sunday as he played the Seaside Course at the Sea Island Golf Club without a birdie, two bogeys and a double-bogey.
Despite the finish there are still plenty of positives that Thornberry, No. 1 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Rankings, can take from the week. Thornberry has now made the cut in two of the three PGA Tour events he has played in.
In his first career PGA Tour start he finished tied for fourth at the FedEx St. Jude Classic before missing the cut at The Greenbrier Classic.
ROUND THREE RECAP
For the second straight day Braden Thornberry was under-par and he will begin the final round of The RSM Classic 7-under. Following his 6-under 64 in the second round the Ole Miss junior carded a 1-under 69 and he will begin Sunday in a tie for 33rd.
Thornberry, No. 1 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com, stumbled out of the gates with a double-bogey on the 3rd hole of the Seaside Course at the Sea Island Golf Club before rebounding with birdies on Nos. 5, 7 and 10. The birdies were the result of putts of 19'3", 6'10" and 5'8".
A winner twice already this season for Ole Miss, Thornberry has made the cut in two of his three PGA Tour appearances. In his first career PGA Tour start he finished tied for fourth at the FedEx St. Jude Classic before missing the cut at The Greenbrier Classic.
Thornberry will play the final round with Russell Knox and Joel Dahmen beginning at 9:30 a.m. EST.
36-HOLE RECAP
On day one of PGA Tour's The RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club Ole Miss junior Braden Thornberry couldn't really get anything going. Playing the first round on the Plantation Course, Thornberry birdied three-times and bogeyed three-times on his way to a level-par 72 that left him tied for 95th.
Knowing that he needed to make a move on Friday in the second round in order to make the cut Thornberry got his day off to a quick start with a birdie on the opening hole of the Seaside Course.
After driving it into the rough, Thornberry hit the green with his second shot, but left himself with a lengthy 33'9" putt that he promptly drained for his first of seven birdies against one bogey on the day.
Thornberry, No. 1 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Rankings, continued his fast start with birdies on Nos. 5, 7 and 8 as he turned in 4-under 31. The birdies were results of putts of 7'10", 6'10" and 2'10".
On the second nine the reigning NCAA champion added additional birdies on the 10th, 13th and 15th holes while he dropped his only shot on the 12th.
Lights out on approach shots throughout the day Thornberry rolled in birdie putts of 12'4", 6'10" and 6'8" on the back nine.
Following his birdie on the 15th Thornberry parred his way to the house and signed for a 6-under 64 that leaves him at 6-under for the tournament. Thornberry will begin the third round tied for 23rd and eight-strokes behind 14-under leader Austin Cook.