Saturday is traditionally moving day at the Navajo Trail Open. That wasn’t the case this time around, as golfers were mostly stuck around par and moving only into a logjam near the top of the leaderboard.
After 36 holes at a tricky Hillcrest Golf Club, nine players are within five shots of leader Wil Collins. The Albuquerque PGA professional posted his second consecutive sub-par round with a 69 and will enjoy being the overnight leader going into Sunday’s final round.
“I had a hard time scoring out there (Saturday),” Collins said. “I think I actually hit it better than (Friday), but I had some good looks that just wouldn’t go. Greens are tough.”
Collins has been a wizard with the wedge all week. He made several up and downs from difficult spots around the Hillcrest greens to preserve his lead.
However, a number of players are stalking Collins. Another Albuquerque pro, Sam Saunders, started his Saturday 4-under through three holes. He posted a 3-under 68, in the second round and is one shot back heading into the final day.
“I just wanted to play these first two rounds to put (myself) in a position to win on Sunday,” Saunders said. “I feel like I really could have gone low (Saturday), but I’m right there. I’m looking forward to playing with Wil.”
Collins and Saunders aren’t running a two-horse race. Braden Baer’s back-to-back rounds of 70 put him in the final group four shots back. Behind Baer is a group of six golfers at 1-under who are well within reach of stealing the tournament with magic on the final day.
John Buffalo, Dennis Downs, Scott Foster, Bobby Kalinowski, Jere Pelletier and Eddie Stewart make up the bunch at 141 after two days.
Foster and Stewart joined Saunders with low rounds of 68 Saturday, and they couldn’t have done it more differently.
“I had it to 5-under at one point, but I gave a few back,” Foster said. “I hit my driver every chance I could get, but the greens are so good and really tricky. I think if you can be aggressive and convert, it’s wide open for the taking on Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Stewart stressed patience.
“It’s so tough out there, so you have to be careful and just take the birdies when they come,” he said. “Some of these pins you just can’t go for. It’s going to be hotter Sunday, which will make it even more difficult, so I’m going to continue to play this way.”
Durango’s own Keenan Holt never got it going and shot 77 Saturday after an opening round 68. Conquistador Golf Course’s Micah Rudosky shot 71 on Saturday for a two-day total of 148.
The professionals will tee off around 1:30 p.m. for Sunday’s final round. The leaders will tee off around 2:30 p.m.
jfries@durangoherald.com
