Bernhard Langer fired a 5-under-par 66 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead at the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, Calif.
Langer sits at 12 under, one shot ahead of Doug Barron (2nd round 66) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (67). Brian Gay (65) and Fred Couples (66) are two shots back in a tie for fourth. Chris DiMarco (69) is within striking distance at 9 under.
Langer had a chaotic round. He posted two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine at Newport Beach Country Club and followed with four birdies, a bogey and an eagle on the back.
“Yeah, the eagle was huge as well,” Langer said. “I played a little scruffy in the middle of the round. I started solid, hit some decent shots, but then I started hitting a couple pulls and a push and just not straight and not good enough.
“Then I really started playing well on the back nine.”
Couples posted a clean round, posting five birdies for his round but left some birdies on the course.
“I missed a few birdie putts, but again, they’re not the easiest greens to make 10-, 12-, 15-footers on,” Couple said. “So what I’ve done well is I’ve kept the bogeys away and then made a birdie here and there and I’m 10 under. Tomorrow I’m going to need probably another 5 or 6 under.”
–Field Level Media