2017 Rex Hospital Open: Lee carries lead into final round with Shindler, Hadley chasing

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – Kyoung-Hoon Lee ended up as the 54-hole leader after carding a 4-under 67 that left him standing at -12 overall following play in the 2017 Rex Hospital Open at TPC Wakefield Plantation on Saturday.

2017 Rex Hospital Open – Leaderboard

Lee will be paired in the final group on Sunday with Conrad Shindler who posted a 6-under 65 that put him in sole possession of second place, just one stroke behind.

Following an underwhelming second-round finish on Friday, Raleigh’s Chesson Hadley, the 2013 champion, stayed in the hunt and finished at 4-under and will start on Sunday just two strokes off the lead.

Christian Brand will tee off alongside Hadley, starting the day at -9 overall and lead the rest of the field which tees off early (6:44 a.m.) led by Eric Compton.

Who to watch

Local product Carter Jenkins, recently coming off his collegiate career at North Carolina, will be scrapping for a significant finish to take advantage of his sponsor’s exemption and earn a spot in next weeks’ Rust-Oleum Championship in Illinois.

PGA Tour veterans Stuart Appleby and Robert Allenby are entertaining to watch and compare to when playing alongside regulars on the Web.com Tour who are fighting to make it to the big tour.

Jason Gore is always a fan favorite to watch – enough said.

Casey Wittenberg, a former amateur and college phenom has been grinding on the Web.com and PGA Tours since turning pro in 2004, and after carding a 6-under 65 on Saturday could make some noise and press for the lead on Sunday.

2017 Rex Hospital Open – Sunday notables to follow

9:00 AM Carter Jenkins

Andy Pope

9:30 AM Stuart Appleby

Bo Hoag

11:00 AM Dawie van der Walt

Robert Allenby

11:50 AM Jack Maguire

Jason Gore

12:30 PM Casey Wittenberg

Andres Gonzales

1:10 PM Chesson Hadley

Christian Brand

1:20 PM Kyoung-Hoon Lee

Conrad Shindler