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NBA Finals: OKC Thunder Will Attack

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Physical and fast was the Pacers’ defensive approach in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and more of the same is coming until MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proves he and the Thunder can handle it.

“You got to suck it up. There’s a maximum four games left in the season,” Gilgeous-Alexander said Thursday of the hands-on defense from Indiana in Game 3. “It’s what you worked the whole season for. It’s what you worked all summer for. To me, the way I see it, you got to suck it up, get it done and try to get a win.”

Game 4 on Friday is vital to Oklahoma City after falling behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Indiana appeared to be the better conditioned team on Wednesday night, closing out Game 3 with a finishing kick and riding the adrenaline of a locked-in home crowd. Pacers’ coach Rick Carlisle gave additional credit to Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard and Aaron Nesmith for their collective defensive effort and the role it played in limiting Gilgeous-Alexander’s contributions.

“I wouldn’t say it surprised me,” Thunder forward Chet Holmgren said of the Pacers’ stamina in Game 3. “That’s kind of been I guess you could say their identity leading up to this series. It’s what’s showed up in the games up to this point. We have to figure out a way to counteract that and kind of change that and swing it in our favor because it’s not a winning formula to not be better than the other team in the fourth quarter.”

Gilgeous-Alexander had only four free throw attempts in the second half of Game 3 and appeared to wear down late in the game. He only took three shots in the final 12 minutes.

“We were a little out of character in a lot of ways yesterday,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “I think that happens in a playoff series. Four games, five games, six games, seven games is a long time. You’re going to get a range of games and experiences in that. We have to get it course corrected pretty quickly if we want to give ourselves a better chance in Game 4.”

– Field Level Media

Filed Under: NBA

Old “Mo” for Ed-Mo-n-ton

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SUNRISE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Edmonton Oilers could have returned home a loss away from falling to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final for a second straight year.

Instead, they have a chance to put themselves one win away from a championship when they host the Panthers for Game 5 on Saturday.

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It didn’t look like they would be in this position after Florida staked a 3-0 lead in the first period of Game 4 on Thursday. But the Oilers rallied to take a 4-3 advantage and, after the Panthers tied it in the dying seconds, Leon Draisaitl clinched it in overtime to give the visitors the 5-4 win.

The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2.

“I mean, everybody knows what the crowd’s going to be like, Saturday night in Alberta, it’s going to be exciting,” veteran Edmonton winger Corey Perry said. “But I think I’ve talked about this a lot: We’re mature and I think after that first period last night it showed we’re a mature hockey team. I don’t expect anything else.”

The 40-year-old helped spark the Oilers with some words of wisdom after the first period. He’s also been delivering on the ice with nine goals in the playoffs, second only to Draisaitl. Perry, who is playing in the Stanley Cup Final for the fifth time in the past six seasons, has 140 points (63 goals, 77 assists) in 235 career playoff games.

“He’s been so valuable for us,” Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm said of Perry. “He’s a leader and he knows exactly when to step in there. He doesn’t do it all the time but when he does, it’s always great and gets everybody’s attention.

“I mean, it was good from him last night again, both on the ice and in the locker room. It’s what we expect out of him. He’s getting up there, but he’s still got it.”

The Panthers, meanwhile, are turning the page after the loss. They’ve been here before: Last year, Edmonton erased Florida’s 3-0 series lead to ultimately force a Game 7.

“We’re calm and confident,” Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling said. “If we play our game, we know we’re going to win most games. … The good thing is, we have a game tomorrow, so we’re ready to bounce right back. We’re very excited to get back.”

It’s been an incredibly tight series thus far, with three of the four games going to overtime. Florida’s power play has helped fuel the defending Cup champions, going 7-for-21 with the man advantage.

It could be the edge the Panthers need to regain the series lead; the Oilers have scored just four times on 20 power-play opportunities.

“A lot of the success in postseason is how you handle your losses,” Florida forward Sam Reinhart said. “They’re going to happen, especially when you get down to the last two teams. You’ve got two of the best teams going at it. So you’ve got to expect to lose at some point. There’s a lot we can learn from and come back strong in Game 5.”

Edmonton has not announced a starting goalie for Game 5. Stuart Skinner was pulled after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first period in Game 4. He was also pulled early in the third period of the 6-1 loss in Game 3.

–Field Level Media

U.S. Open: Spaun Leads After 18

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OAKMONT, (Pennsylvania) – J.J. Spaun (1st/-4) carded his low 18-hole score in a major with the previous low: (67) coming at the 2018 PGA Championship/R4). Spaun’s previous low in a U.S. Open was (75) at (2021/Torrey Pines/R2).

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Thursday marked Spaun’s first career bogey-free round in a major and he was the lone player in the field without a bogey (or worse).

This is Spaun’s seventh time leading/co-leading after the first round on TOUR but he’s 0-for-6 in such instances.

South Korea’s Sungjae Im (T3) and Si Woo Kim (T3) each opened with 2-under (68) and each look to become the first Korean player since Y.E. Yang(2009 PGA Championship) to win a major.

Two-time U.S. Open champion (2017, 2018) Brooks Koepka (T3) eagled No. 4 on his way to 2-under (68). He looks to become the seventh player to win three U.S. Open titles (Jack Nicklaus/4; Ben Hogan/4; Bobby Jones/4; Willie Anderson/4; Tiger Woods/3; Hale Irwin/3).

Now seeking his third win in seven starts, Ben Griffin (T6) opened with 1-under (69) as he won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (with partner Andrew Novak) and Charles Schwab Challenge. Griffin finished 2nd in his most recent start (the MemorialTournament presented by Workday).

Making his 96th consecutive major appearance (the longest active streak), Adam Scott (T11) posts even-par 70.

World No. 1 and FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler (T49) shoots 3-over 73; seeks his fourth win in five starts (THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson; PGA Championship; the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday).

125th U.S. Open | Leaderboard After 18 Holes

J.J. Spaun 66 (-4)

2 Thriston Lawrence 67 (-3)

T3 Si Woo Kim 68 (-2)

T3 Brooks Koepka 68 (-2)

T3 Sungjae Im 68 (-2)

Full Leaderboard: (PGATourCom)

Sox Buehler Tosses a Quality Win

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Boston’s starter Walker Buehler worked a seven-inning quality start and got the support of four solo home runs as the Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in the rubber game of a three-game series on Wednesday.

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Marcelo Mayer homered in each of the first two at-bats, with the 22-year-old rookie becoming the youngest Red Sox player to produce a multi-homer game since Rafael Devers in 2018.

Jarren Duran hit a leadoff home run in the first inning and Abraham Toro socked the eventual game-winning shot in the fifth after Tampa Bay erased a 3-1 deficit.

Toro and Ceddanne Rafaela joined Mayer with multi-hit games for Boston, which has won back-to-back series.

Buehler (5-4) struck out seven while yielding three runs on six hits and one walk. Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 12th save.

Yandy Diaz (two-run homer), Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum all had two hits for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay right-hander Zack Littell (6-6) allowed all four Boston homers in his six-inning outing. He permitted eight hits, fanned six and didn’t issue a walk.

After Buehler stranded two baserunners to post a first-inning zero, Duran bashed Littell’s first pitch of the game into the right-center-field bullpen give the hosts a quick 1-0 lead.

The Rays quickly responded as back-to-back singles by Mangum and Matt Thaiss set the table for a game-tying run in the second. Lowe knocked in Mangum on a fielder’s-choice grounder to shortstop.

Mayer singlehandedly put the Red Sox back in front and provided insurance with his solo shots. His first homer led off the second inning, landing deep in the right field corner.

Mayer went deep again with one out in the fourth, sending another homer to a similar location in right.

Two-out offense drew Tampa Bay even in the fifth. After Lowe chopped an infield single on an open left side, Diaz deposited a two-run homer into the first rows of the right field seats.

After Littell recorded three straight outs by strikeout in the fourth and fifth, Toro cranked a homer out to straightaway center for a 4-3 edge.

Buehler retired seven straight to finish his outing before Justin Wilson and Greg Weissert combined to get out of an eighth-inning jam, preserving the one-run Boston lead. A walk to Junior Caminero and a Mangum single off Weissert loaded the bases, but Thaiss fanned to end the threat.

–Field Level Media

PGA Tour: It’s U.S. Open Time

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OAKMONT, (Pennsylvania) – The United States Open is the 27th of 36 events on the PGA Tour schedule. It is the third of four majors in pro golf with only The Open in Britain remaining.

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Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau will attempt to be the first back-to-back U.S. Open champion since Brooks Koepka (2017, ‘18) and dating back before then to Curtis Strange in 1988 and ‘89. Both Koepka and DeChambeau are on the LIV Golf Tour.

The 2025 field includes:

  • The winners of the last 10 U.S. Open tournaments are in the field (2024/2020/Bryson DeChambeau; 2023/Wyndham Clark; 2022/Matt Fitzpatrick; 2021/Jon Rahm; 2019/Gary Woodland;2018/2017/Brooks Koepka; 2016/Dustin Johnson; 2015/Jordan Spieth).
  • A full house of 49 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (Only No. 26 Billy Horschel is missing as he is recovering from hip surgery).
  • 32 players in the field competed in the 2016 U.S. Open when it was last played at Oakmont Country Club, including three who finished inside the top 10: (Dustin Johnson/1st, Shane Lowry/T2, Jason Day/T8).

World No. 32 Ryan Fox won last week’s RBC Canadian Open on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff over Sam Burns. That win moved Fox inside the Top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking to qualify for the U.S. Open. It marked Fox’s second title of the PGA TOUR season (ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic),

A record number of 10,202 entries for qualifying were accepted for the 2025 U.S. Open; qualifying is open to any professional or amateur whose Handicap Index® does not exceed 0.4.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Tiger Woods’ major championship-record 15-stroke victory at the U.S. Open (Pebble Beach Golf Links).

Oakmont Country Club (Oakmont, Pennsylvania) will host the U.S. Open for the record-extending 10th time (1927/Tommy Armour; 1935/Sam Parks Jr.; 1953/Ben Hogan; 1962/Jack Nicklaus; 1973/Johnny Miller; 1983/Larry Nelson; 1994/Ernie Els; 2007/Angel Cabrera; 2016/Dustin Johnson).

Oakmont opened in 1903 when it was designed by Henry Fownes. The course underwent a bunker restoration by Gil Hanse in 2023.

Adam Scott is making his 96th consecutive major championship appearance, dating to the 2001 Open Championship. Only Jack Nicklaus (146) has played in more than 100 straight majors

Johnny Miller’s final-round 63 at Oakmont Country Club en route to victory at the 1973 U.S. Open remains the lowest 18-hole score in a U.S. Open played at Oakmont and Miller is tied for the lowest final-round score in U.S. Open history (Tommy Fleetwood/2018, 2023).

U.S. Open | Tournament Facts

COURSE: Oakmont Country Club (Pennsylvania)

YARDS/PAR: 7,372 yards/Par 70

ARCHITECT/DESIGN: Henry Fownes

PRIZE Money – Purse/Winner’s Share: Apron. $21m/$4 million

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Bryson DeChambeau

PAST RESULTS: (link)

OVERVIEW: (PGATourCom)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 750

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup #USOpengolf

U.S. Open | The Basics

The Tee Times at Oakmont start at 6:45am (ET) and go to 2:42pm (ET).

Weather: Thursday’s forecast in PA calls for cloudy skies but temperatures reaching a daytime high of 83-degrees. Winds 2-5 mph with gusts to 12 mph. Some showers expected Friday.

NBA Finals: Thunder Benched

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INDIANAPOLIS – Backup guards Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell helped Indiana’s bench break out with 49 points as the Pacers topped the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 on Wednesday to claim a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

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Thanks to 27 points from Mathurin and the kind of pyrotechnics the Pacers have grown to adore from reserve point guard McConnell, Indiana has the advantage in the best-of-seven series.

Tyrese Haliburton provided heroics with 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds while Pascal Siakam added 21 points for the Pacers, who haven’t lost back-to-back games since December.

Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 26 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points. Chet Holmgren compiled 20 points and 10 rebounds but shot 0-for-6 from 3-point range.

Game 4 is scheduled for Friday in Indianapolis.

The Thunder trailed 110-102 with three minutes to go, but Alex Caruso tried to keep the Pacers from a premature celebration with a steal and breakaway into the open court. Two steps into the paint, Aaron Nesmith closed and forcefully brought both arms down on Caruso to prevent the shot attempt and take him to the floor. Following a review, no flagrant foul was called.

Caruso made both free throws and Indiana’s Myles Turner subsequently lost the ball out of bounds. However, Turner, who missed eight of his first 10 shots, came up with two blocks of Holmgren on the same possession to keep the lead at six.

Indiana got another stop, and Siakam lit up the stadium for good with an easy basket that gave the Pacers a 112-104 lead with 69 seconds left.

McConnell was seemingly everywhere, and he came up with massive defensive plays all game.

He ripped off Caruso’s bullet inbounds pass with two hands at point-blank range under the basket and pumped in a layup to tie the game at 95 early in the fourth quarter.

Mathurin cashed a trey off a McConnell assist, putting the Pacers up 98-96.

Haliburton re-entered the game in the fourth quarter, took a handoff at the top of the key, stopped, squared and splashed his fourth 3-pointer of the game for a 101-98 lead with 6:42 remaining.

Indiana’s Aaron Nembhard made a 12-foot jumper from the left elbow and the Pacers got it back after a missed 3-point attempt, taking a touchdown lead (107-100) on Obi Toppin’s two-hand dunk off of a miss with 4:23 to go.

Nesmith caught a skip pass on the right wing and drained a trey on Indiana’s next possession for an eight-point lead.

McConnell hit a running right-handed layup between two clutch buckets by Mathurin as the Pacers stayed close, down 93-91, with 10 minutes to play.

Oklahoma City had surged ahead for its biggest lead of the second half — 89-84 — to end of the third. Williams hit a long 3-pointer came after an and-1 baseline dunk by Holmgren, who moved through the swiping hands of McConnell to finish.

Williams played a large portion of the game with the ball in his hands as the Pacers worked to keep Gilgeous-Alexander in check.

McConnell leads NBA reserves in assists per game in playoffs (4.1).

– Field Level Media

Filed Under: NBA

Panthers Prep for Oilers’ Best

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SUNRISE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Edmonton Oilers showed their disdain for losing with some late-game antics in Monday’s Game 3 loss to the Florida Panthers.

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Now, the Oilers must find a way to turn their angst into a victory or risk falling into a dangerously deep hole when they resume the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday in South Florida.

With the Panthers leading 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, the next clash could either send the series back to Edmonton all-square — and with the Oilers regaining the home-ice advantage — or put the Panthers on the cusp of a second consecutive title against the Oilers.

“We’ve always been a good team at coming back out with a strong effort,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said of turning the page from Monday’s 6-1 loss. “Obviously it was not our best showing, not our best game, but we have a great chance … to show what our team is all about.”

Edmonton must do more than just talk about a better performance. The Oilers reached this point thanks to an improved defense to go with their high-octane attack, but they have been undisciplined in the finals and have struggled keeping pucks out of their net.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner is under the microscope having surrendered 13 goals in the series, and boasting an .866 save percentage. But the Oilers as a whole must find another gear to send the series back to their home on even ground.

“It’s one game. We’re looking for the whole series,” Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. “We know we’re down 2-1 and we gotta be better next game … but we’re one win away from having the best-out-of-three (series) with two home games.”

[Read more…] about Panthers Prep for Oilers’ Best

Patriots: Diggs Stays Mumm

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FOXBOROUGH – At the final practice of Patriots mandatory minicamp in Massachusetts on Tuesday, newly acquired wide receiver Stefon Diggs spoke with reporters but did not address a viral video that has inspired speculation about his future with the team.

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In the video, posted to social media, Diggs is seen enjoying himself on a boat with three bikini-clad women that included top-selling rapper Cardi B, but he’s also seen brandishing a plastic bag filled with a mysterious pink substance.

The 31-year-old Diggs has refrained from speaking about the incident, and did so again Tuesday despite some observers wondering if the four-time Pro Bowler could be in hot water with either his new team or the NFL at large.

First-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spoke recently on the importance of players making “good decisions.”

“I kind of keep my personal life personal,” Diggs said. “I had a conversation with Vrabel, obviously, and I’m going to echo everything that he said. Hope everyone makes good decisions. I had some conversations with people in the building as well. So, everything else is everything else, and the particulars are all internal.”

A First-Team All-Pro in 2020, Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Patriots in March.

He has described his rapport with Vrabel as being positive and expressed admiration for Vrabel’s championship pedigree.

“I’m a huge fan of him,” Diggs said. “I can’t wait to play for him. He’s got that itch that you want to run through a wall for him. I look forward to it. Me and him go back and forth in practice, and I’m not even participating.”

A year ago, Diggs played in just eight games for the Houston Texans due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, breaking a string of six straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career. He has amassed 857 receptions for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns during his 10-year career split among the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19), Buffalo Bills (2020-23) and Texans (2024).

–Field Level Media

Sox Call Up Roman Anthony

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) -First, it was infielder/utility man Kristian Campbell. Next, was infielder Marcelo Mayer. Today, it was the third amigo in outfielder Roman Anthony, touted as the No. 1 prospect in Major League Baseball.

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The Boston Red Sox called up Anthony from Triple-A Worcester ahead of tonight’s home game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Anthony will start in right field and bat fifth for the Red Sox tonight. The left-handed hitter takes the spot that belonged to Wilyer Abreu, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain.

Anthony, the team’s second-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, forged a .288/.423/.491 slash line in 58 games for Worcester this season. He posted 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 265 plate appearances — highlighted by a grand slam on Saturday that flew well over the right-center wall and was estimated at 497 feet.

“We’re trying to win ballgames,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “The kid has done an amazing job throughout (prospect development) getting ready for this moment. We’re excited. It’s a big day for the organization … we’ll use him the right way and we’ll help him with the adjustments that comes with being a big-leaguer.”

The Red Sox (32-35) now have elevated all three of their elite hitting prospects to the bigs. Second baseman/outfielder Campbell broke spring training with Boston and, after a red-hot start, has settled in with a .233 average, six homers and 20 RBIs in 58 games.

Mayer was called up two weeks ago when third basemen Alex Bregman went on the injured list with a quadriceps issue. Installed at third base where he had little experience, Mayer has posted a .222/.282/.361 slash line with one homer and two errors in 12 games.

Abreu ranks second on the Red Sox with 13 homers, complementing a .245 batting average with 32 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

Fox Burns-Up in PGA Tour Playoff

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New Zealand’s Ryan Fox had a dynamic putt to extend the RBC Canadian Open and later used an awesome rip from the fairway to help secure a victory.

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Fox birdied the fourth playoff hole to win a showdown with Sam Burns and capture the tournament Sunday north of the border.

Fox notched a 4-under-par 66 in the final round, forcing the playoff with a birdie putt from about 17 feet on the last hole of regulation, on the way to his second career victory. Both triumphs have come across his last four tournaments.

Burns shot 62 to set the clubhouse lead and then waited a couple of hours in an attempt to notch his first PGA Tour victory in more than two years.

Burns and Fox finished at 18-under 262 at the North Course of TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

The duo played the par-5 18th repeatedly in the playoff until a winner was determined. They each recorded pars the first three times through.

“Sam and I had a bit of a pillow fight there for three holes,” Fox said. “It was some pretty average golf from both of us, some average putting.”

Fox drilled his second shot to the green on what became the last playoff hole, while Burns had an approach shot roll off the green.

“That shot I hit on 18 with the 3-wood was probably the best shot I ever hit,” Fox said. “It would have been nice to make (the eagle putt), but hey, I’ll take it.”

Fox’s tee shot on the first playoff hole was in a bunker off the fairway, but Burns’ potential winning putt from inside 6 feet was off the mark. Fox left a 12-footer to win short on the second playoff hole; Burns left his approach shot short on the third playoff hole, but recovered.

Fox had a bogey-free round, rallying with birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to pull within a stroke. He played the 18th by lofting his second shot less than 175 yards down the fairway — clearly aiming to tie and trying to be in good position with his approach — and it worked out.

“I hit some great shots down the stretch in regulation,” Fox said. “Probably got a little lucky on that putt on 18 in regulation, snuck in the left door.”

Taiwan’s Kevin Yu posted 66 for third place at 17 under.

Cameron Young (65) and Matt McCarty (67) tied for fourth at 16 under. The trio of Andrew Putnam (67), South Korea’s Byeong Hun An (66) and Italy’s Matteo Manassero (69) tied for sixth at 15 under.

Burns had nine birdies and one bogey. The birdies included five consecutive holes to begin the back nine, and he tacked on one more on the final hole.

“I knew I needed to make birdie there to have a chance,” Burns said during his layoff prior to the playoff. “I knew that was important to make that one.”

With the last pairing just a few holes into the final round, a dozen golfers were within two shots of the lead.

Fox and Manassero began the day sharing a one-shot lead.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry, with an early tee time, stormed to the lead with an eagle on the par-5 first hole (a 4-foot putt) followed with three consecutive birdies. He was undone by playing the last 10 holes in 2 over, ending the round with 67 and the tournament at 13 under.

Yu gained the lead briefly with an eagle on the par-4 second hole on a shot from 91 yards out. He got going again with birdies on three of the last five holes, including the 18th.

“I’m glad I finished great with three birdies in the last few holes,” Yu said. “… Proud of how we fought today, and hopefully coming back next year will have better results.”

Young, who began the round with an eagle, said he thought he was in ideal position until his only bogey came on the last hole when his second shot went awry.

“I couldn’t have hit two better shots on the last hole,” Young said. “I don’t hit 3-wood that far, and it’s blowing straight into the wind, and it decided to bounce all the way to the back woods. I thought in the air I was going to have about a 12-footer to win the tournament, and it ended up somewhere I was going to struggle to make par, let alone make a 4. Pretty upset.”

Second-round leader Cameron Champ was back on track with a 67, putting him at 14 under.

–Field Level Media