Kevin Kisner knows that it is how you finish that counts most on the PGA Tour.
Kisner finished and performed better than anyone else on moving day Saturday at the RSM Classic and as a result, he will take a three-shot lead into the final round as he looks for his first PGA Tour victory.
With the winds blowing steady all day and making conditions more difficult at the Seaside course, Kisner birdied his final three holes and posted the low round of the day — a six-under par 64 that put him at an impressive 16-under par.
“I hit it flush all day,” Kisner said of his ball-striking. “I’ve struck it so well the last six months. I’m in the right position. If I keep hitting it the way I am then I just need to hole some putts tomorrow.”
He will start the last 18 holes three in front of Kevin Chappell, four in front of Graeme McDowell and five clear of Alex Cjeka. That is how they are lined up behind him with McDowell having the strongest credentials and coming off a victory last week.
McDowell had the second-best round of the day, a five-under par 65. McDowell kept himself close to the lead with a bogey-free round.
Kisner’s day looked as though it might fall apart when he bogeyed the par four 14th then failed to birdie the par five 15th.
But his birdie-birdie-birdie finish gave him the cushion he was looking for going into the final day. Kisner has come so very close to victory this season. He has four second-place finishes, three came in playoff losses.
