Buckley is lifted by two eagles to lead the Sony Open

Hayden Buckley shot two eagles on Saturday in a 64-under-par 64 to take a two-shot lead at the Sony Open. He’s aiming for his first US PGA Tour title.

American 26-year old Holeshotter, holed out from fairway at the 10th for an eagle, and then broke free at the top of the leaderboard with another par-five 18th eagle, where his approach from fairway settled just two feet from pin.

He was two strokes ahead of overnight leader Chris Kirk and Ben Taylor.

England’s Taylor shot a five-under 65 to join the group at 13-under 197. Lipsky posted a second consecutive 66, and Kirk posted a score of 68.

Andrew Putnam topped the leaderboard with an 8-under 62 featuring 10 birdies. South Korean Kim Siwoo joined him on 198, signing for a 64.

Buckley finished tied for fifth at October’s Zozo championship. He said that his round was a testimony to patience.

“I missed a three-foot, four-footer for birdie early on and I just stuck to it,” he stated, adding that he didn’t feel as in control on Friday.

He stated that he hit many greens but hit them in more difficult spots today. “A lot of shots were pin-high and had a lot more break, as well as a lot faster putts.” I feel smart.

Buckley’s eagles won the day, when 12 players were in the lead at Waialae Country Club Honolulu, Hawaii.

He “chunked” his tee shot at 10th. Then he hit his 50 degree wedge second shot “a hair thin”.

Buckley said that he was worried it would miss the green but it instead hit the putting surface, and it rolled in.

He was 18 when he stated that he was just trying to get to the front edge.

“Fortunately, I had a great deal and hit a five iron in close.”

Buckley will play in the final round of the US PGA Tour event for the first-time.

Taylor and Lipsky also aim to win maiden US tours, but Lipsky has three international titles: an Asian Tour victory in 2012, and European Tour wins for 2014 and 2018.

Taylor recovered from his opening bogey by scoring six birdies and rolled in a six-footer at 18th.

“Solid round,” he declared. “I had a bit of a hiccup with the first, but it was a minor one… but today we were level-headed.”

Lipsky opened the tournament with back-toback bogeys but managed seven birdies throughout. After his 17th bogey, he scored an 11-foot birdie.

Despite a terrible start, Kirk continued to hunt. When he hit the ball out of bounds on the first tee to make a double bogey, his overnight lead disappeared instantly.

He replied with a birdie at the fringe at the second. He added birdies at sixth and ninth, before another setback at 13th. He was in fairway bunker, but he also had a greenside bunker.

Kirk made birdie attempt from a greenside bunker at 14th, birdied 16 and couldn’t make the par-five final hole.

bb/rcw